Introduction:
Hormones are a crucial part of the body’s endocrine system. These hormones or chemical messengers are important to carry out various functions in the body, like regulation of metabolism, regulation of body temperature, growth, development, sexual growth, reproduction, etc. Any imbalance in these hormones' levels can lead to several medical conditions. One such condition caused by increased or decreased levels of hormones is the hormonal belly. Excess fat is accumulated in the case of a hormonal belly, which is persistent and difficult to get rid of.
What Are Hormones?
Hormones are chemicals that are primarily produced within an endocrine gland, and they act as signaling molecules. Therefore, they are often known as chemical messengers. The hormones are produced by endocrine glands and secreted into the blood. These hormones extend to the other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Hormones then reach receptors present in the target organ. The endocrine system refers to the intricate communication between glands, hormones, and various organs. Hormones have an impact on different physiological processes, including puberty, fertility, appetite, growth, and metabolism. When the endocrine glands underproduce (or do not produce at all) or overproduce a hormone, multiple diseases are caused.
What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormonal imbalance is the underlying cause of several health problems. A hormone imbalance can be caused by a variety of factors, including nutrition, exercise habits, age, and genetics. The common causes of hormonal imbalance are as follows:
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Sleep: A good sleep cycle and sleeping routine are necessary for good health. An adult requires at least six to seven hours of sleep at a stretch to maintain good physical and mental health. Proper sleep also helps in relaxing, repairing, and restoring hormone levels. It is necessary for intellectual functioning that enables focusing and carrying out daily duties. Lack of sleep can result in an imbalance in the levels of ghrelin and leptin hormones. These are hunger hormones; ghrelin is responsible for inducing the feeling of hunger, and leptin induces the feeling of being full after eating. Therefore, lack of sleep can have an adverse effect on appetite.
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Exercise: Exercising regularly and maintaining an active lifestyle are extremely important for health. Individuals who do not exercise regularly and have a sedentary lifestyle have high levels of cortisol. When a person is stressed out, cortisol levels are elevated. This leads to the accumulation of extra fat in the body.
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Diet: Eating a diet that is rich in minerals and nutrients is vital for maintaining an average hormone balance in the body. Leptin and ghrelin hormone imbalances can also result from eating fatty, sugary foods.
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Age: As age advances, the body naturally undergoes various changes. Some physiological functions become less responsive to hormones as age advances, and the amount of hormones the body produces also decreases. Age changes may slow down the metabolism, which in turn causes some hormones to slow down (for example, thyroid hormones).
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Genetics: Family history helps determine whether an individual has a hormone imbalance. Various genetic factors that run the families can lead to hormone imbalance.
What Is Hormonal Belly?
An imbalance in the hormone levels can affect various physical processes of the body, including; metabolism, stress, appetite, libido (sex drive), growth, etc. This hormonal imbalance can lead to excess weight gain or fat accumulation in the belly area, known as the hormonal belly. Several medical conditions and other causes can cause a hormonal belly. A hormonal belly can occur from a person's hormone levels fluctuating as they age or go through lifestyle changes. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including menopause or high levels of stress.
What Does Hormonal Belly Look Like?
A hormonal belly looks like an accumulation of excessive fat around the belly area. It looks like excess fat on the stomach that is hard to get rid of.
What Causes Hormonal Belly?
Some of the common hormone imbalances that can cause hormonal belly are:
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Thyroid Hormone: The thyroid hormones are the hormones produced and secreted by the thyroid gland. These include thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonin. These hormones are crucial for several body functions, including growth, development, metabolism, etc. The thyroid produces hormones that aid in regulating metabolism, or how the body burns energy. Therefore, these hormones can affect every organ in the body. In the case of thyroid hormone balance, conditions like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), goiter (lump in the thyroid gland), etc., can develop. Hypothyroidism is characterized by a lack of thyroid hormones, leading to a slowing down of metabolism and several other body functions. This eventually leads to weight gain and a hormonal belly.
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Cortisol: Cortisol, or the stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal glands, and it is a vital hormone responsible for managing stress and plays a crucial role in the fight-or-flight response of the body. Cortisol is an important causative factor for the hormonal belly. When the body experiences tension and anxiety, cortisol levels rise, which can cause excessive weight gain (especially around the belly area). When the body is subjected to immense stress and anxiety, it might go into survival mode, raising cortisol levels and encouraging the body to store extra fat.
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Leptin: Leptin is the hunger hormone that induces a feeling of fullness after eating a meal. Leptin causes a feeling of fullness by targeting brain nerve cells, especially those in the hypothalamus. Leptin is responsible for inhibiting or controlling hunger and reducing fat storage in the body. Since leptin is produced by fat cells, obese people have a high level of leptin in their bodies. Moreover, they have a reduced sensitivity to leptin which causes uncontrolled hunger pangs and increased appetite because the body fails to detect satiety (feeling fullness after eating). This eventually leads to excess weight gain and a hormonal belly.
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Testosterone: Low testosterone levels in men can also lead to a hormonal belly. Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in males, responsible for the growth of muscle mass and the development of male characteristics. The testosterone levels in men naturally decrease with age. A deficiency of testosterone can prevent muscular growth and cause weight gain.
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a common condition characterized by a hormonal imbalance that leads to enlargement of the ovaries and the development of multiple cysts on the outer edge of the ovaries. PCOS affects one in every ten women who are of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have higher levels of androgens (male sex hormones), resulting in weight gain, especially around the belly area.
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Menopause: When a woman enters her 40s or 50s, she naturally experiences a reduction in reproductive hormones and the stopping of menstrual cycles. Estrogen levels decrease when a woman approaches menopause. In postmenopausal women, lower estrogen levels can lead to an increase in belly fat.
What Are the Signs of a Hormonal Belly?
Some of the common signs of a hormonal belly are:
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Being overweight.
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Excess fat around the abdomen or belly area.
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Being constantly stressed.
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Unusual hair loss or thinning of hair.
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Food cravings (especially sugar).
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Irregular menstrual cycles.
How to Get Rid of Hormonal Belly Fat?
The hormonal belly can be treated in the following ways:
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Thyroid Hormone Deficiency: Thyroid hormone imbalance leading to hypothyroidism can be easily treated with the help of thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Levothyroxine is the most commonly used drug.
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Cortisol: Increased cortisol levels in the body can be treated by treating the underlying condition that may be leading to excess cortisol production (for example- Cushing syndrome). If cortisol levels are high due to constant stress and anxiety, then measures should be taken to reduce stress. Medications to control stress and anxiety are also helpful.
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Leptin: Leptin resistance may be due to obesity and inflammation in the body. Therefore, lifestyle changes should be adopted to reduce weight and inflammation in the body.
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Testosterone: Low testosterone levels in men can be easily recovered with the help of testosterone supplements.
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS in women may be treated with the help of birth control pills and drugs to increase insulin resistance (metformin) and reduce weight.
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Exercise and Diet: Exercising regularly and eating a low-calorie, healthy diet is essential for good health and reducing fat around the belly area. Combining these two factors is especially good in treating a hormonal belly.
Conclusion:
Hormonal bellies are challenging to get rid of. Since the condition is caused by hormonal imbalance, it is crucial to treat the imbalance to get rid of belly fat. An imbalance in the levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronine, calcitonin, cortisol, leptin, ghrelin, etc., can lead to a hormonal belly. Several lifestyle modifications, including working out daily and eating a healthy diet, can reduce a hormonal belly.
