Weight gain in hips and thighs is caused by a mix of genetics, hormones (especially estrogen in women), and lifestyle factors like a sedentary lifestyle and excess calorie intake, leading to fat storage in these lower-body areas, often influenced by body's natural tendency to store fat for childbearing. Age, stress (cortisol), certain medications, and conditions like lipedema can also play significant roles.
Your Estrogen Levels Are High
High levels of the sex hormone estrogen can send fat to the hips, thighs, and pelvis area, according to an article published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, making lower-body weight gain more common in women.
The hormone estrogen inhibits fat placement in the abdominal region of the body, and stimulates fat placement in the gluteofemoral areas (the buttocks and hips). Certain hormonal imbalances can affect the fat distributions of both men and women.
If you are affected by lipoedema: your legs appear symmetrically swollen – swelling can occur from the hips down to the ankles and your legs appear column-like; the feet are not usually affected. affected areas feel 'spongy' and cool, and the skin is generally soft and may appear dimply.
Specifically, there are no exercises that will target fat loss just for your thighs and hips. That said, moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise, if safe for you to engage in (depending on your health status/history), will be the best way to lose fat/lean out overall.
Walking is a form of aerobic exercise that helps your body burn calories. When your body burns more calories than you consume, it starts using stored fat as energy. And with time, this can lead to fat reduction in your thighs and other areas.
The abdomen is particularly susceptible to weight gain in large part because it has more fat cells than other regions of the body. Moreover, these abdominal fat cells do not break down as easily as the average fat cells. Hence, you may notice that you still have belly fat even after trimming down in other areas.
Starve lymphedema and lipedema by avoiding added sugars (especially fructose), refined grains (especially grains containing gluten), and chemically modified fats.
The main culprit behind weight gain in your thighs is estrogen. This hormone drives the increase in fat cells in females, causing deposits to form most commonly around the buttocks and thighs.
Hormonal imbalances show up as symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight changes, irregular periods, skin issues (acne), hair changes, sleep problems, brain fog, low libido, digestive issues, and temperature sensitivity, affecting energy, body functions, and mental well-being, often linked to stress, thyroid, or reproductive hormones.
The most common stubborn fat areas include the belly, thighs, hips, lower back, upper arms, and neck. These regions tend to store fat more easily and resist weight loss, making them challenging for many people. Fat in these areas is often influenced by factors like hormones, genetics, and lifestyle choices.
Fat storage
Estrogen is also the hormone that helps women to have a wider pelvis, to make it easier to carry and give birth to a child. Another characteristic of estrogen is the storage of fat in places like the thighs, buttocks and hips.
Body Shapes with the Highest Risk of Health Problems
Apple and pear body shapes tend to have the highest risk. Apples tend to be at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and strokes because they hold a larger amount of tummy fat.
Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone, a slowing metabolism, and lower muscle mass are causes. Genetics, a lack of sleep, and a more sedentary lifestyle also contribute to weight gain, with fat accumulating around your waist more than your hips and thighs.
Some of the medical reasons for weight change include:
3 Signs Your Hormones Are Behind Your Weight Gain
Hormonal changes – Inner thigh fat accumulation is typically spurred by hormonal imbalances due to age, pregnancy, menopause, or other factors.
You might have lipedema if you notice a disproportionate buildup of fatty tissue, often starting at puberty, in your legs/thighs/buttocks (or sometimes arms) that doesn't match your slim upper body, feels painful/tender to the touch, bruises easily, and forms a "cuff" at the ankles/wrists (feet/hands stay slim), resisting diet/exercise, with skin sometimes lumpy or dimpled.
Other Lipedema Health Care Considerations
Nutritional deficiencies, especially Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and iron. Orthopedic issues including joint hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type, flat feet, gait issues, knee problems, and arthritis. Psychological issues including depression or anxiety.
Lipedema doesn't have a cure, but treatment can help improve symptoms.
Kelly Clarkson, a famous singer and songwriter, has openly discussed her struggles with Lipedema. Diagnosed in 2006, Clarkson has managed her symptoms through lifestyle changes, healthy eating, and proper treatment.
At age 30, you started losing a half-pound of muscle each year. If not properly rebuilt or maintained, this natural muscle loss can effectively slow your metabolism for years to come. In your 40s and 50s, women go through menopause, which causes a litany of hormonal changes and an increased risk for weight gain.
Kelly Clarkson lost weight by combining a high-protein diet, regular walking, and prescription medication that supported her metabolism. She also adopted a lectin-free diet to reduce inflammation.
Cortisol belly simply looks like abdominal fat, and there is no way to identify it by appearance. More important than its appearance is what cortisol belly can do to your health.