Gaining weight around your belly can be very upsetting, and you may wonder how to get rid of hormonal belly fat, especially when you have tried so hard to maintain a flat tummy, but your hormones keep ruining your effort. If you have tried diet and other weight loss methods but didn’t get good results, then your unexplained weight gain may be from hormonal imbalance.
Hormones control many processes in the body, including appetite, energy, metabolism and satiety and an imbalance in certain hormones can alter these processes and make you gain belly fat. However, to get rid of your belly fat, you must treat the underlying cause; that is why, in this guide, we want to show you how to get rid of hormonal belly fat once and for all.
What Type of Hormonal Imbalance Causes Belly Fat?
Cortisol
This is a stress hormone released to launch your body into flight or fight mode whenever you are stressed; studies have shown that increased cortisol levels can lead to fat accumulation in your belly.
Testosterone
Increased testosterone levels in females lead to insulin resistance, which makes them accumulate abdominal fat. Low testosterone levels in male makes their growth slow and increases body fat.
Thyroid
The thyroid gland produces hormones that control metabolism (the rate at which your body consumes energy). When the thyroid gland does not secrete enough hormones, most processes in your body slow down, including metabolism and make you gain weight, especially around the abdomen.
Leptin
This is a hormone that makes you feel full after a meal; if leptin levels increase, it can lead to leptin resistance and cause increased food intake, which will, in turn, lead to belly fat accumulation.
Oestrogen
Low oestrogen levels can lead to decreased sex drive, loss of bone density and increased belly fat in both men and women.
Signs of Hormonal Belly Fat
Before we go ahead to see how to get rid of hormonal belly fat, you should first be sure if your belly fat is caused by hormonal imbalance and here are some signs to look out for.
- Not feeling satiated even after a large meal.
- Weight gain only around your belly
- Excessive sugar cravings.
- Hair loss
- Fatigue.
- Decreased libido.
- Constipation.
How to Get Rid of Hormonal Belly Fat
Treat Hormonal Imbalance
The first step to take on how to get rid of hormonal belly fat is to consult a doctor and treat your hormonal imbalance.
Once your hormones become balanced, you can start working on removing the already accumulated belly fat while you are sure there will be no more accumulation. However, if you fail to correct this underlying problem, your efforts to get rid of your belly fat will be in vain because it will keep building up.
After treating your hormonal imbalance, it’s time to make some lifestyle modifications to get you back in shape.
See also: 20 Simple Wellness Tips for Healthy and Happy Living
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is the practice of eating and fasting at stipulated times. It is done in different ways: you can have a full meal one day, and the next day, you eat less than 500 calories, or you can eat once every day. This gives your body time to properly use the energy consumed as food and have nothing left to store as fat.
Get Enough Sleep
The importance of sleep to our health and well-being cannot be overemphasised; sleeping gives your body time to unwind and relax. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body will become stressed, which can lead to excess production of stress hormones and accumulation of belly fat. So you should get as much rest as possible to maintain a healthy weight.
Opt for a Healthier Diet
By all means, you need to curb the urge to consume unhealthy food, avoid sugars and alcohol and stick to a healthy diet plan with fewer calories. This includes low carbs, more proteins, vitamins and more water. What you consume says a lot about how you look; if you eat more than your body needs, it will be stored as fat.
Create a Routine for Exercise
Regular exercise can help you burn calories and reduce the fat around your abdomen; this way, even if you live a sedentary lifestyle, you can manage your weight adequately. Exercise can also help improve bone and heart health, stamina and good sleep.
Manage Stress Levels
As we have mentioned earlier, stress can make you gain weight around your waistline, so whatever is causing you to stress, you must take care of it and ensure you do not stress over things you can or cannot control. Also, ensure your body gets enough rest after a long day at work.
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Belly fat can increase your risk of heart disease, liver problems and diabetes, so it isn’t something you should ignore. If it is caused by hormonal imbalances, then with the information we have provided so far, you can eliminate it completely.
However, you must keep in mind that it takes time to notice significant changes because individual metabolism, body composition, and the severity of the hormonal imbalance differ for everyone, so you must be persistent and patient enough to achieve long-term results.
