A pronounced belly in females can be due to various normal physiological changes, lifestyle factors, genetics, and sometimes underlying medical conditions. It is not a single phenomenon but a result of several potential causes.
Hormones. Hormonal changes and fluctuations as we age are another major cause for belly fat accumulation. A premenopausal decrease in estrogen levels will mess up your fat distribution, leading to a larger gain on the stomach instead of other parts of the body.
Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents. Urinary retention causing a build-up of urine.
A hormonal belly typically appears as accumulated fat around your waist, typically towards your lower waist. There are a few tell-tale signs that this excess weight is due to hormonal causes: You're only gaining weight around your abdomen. Women typically gain weight on their butts, hips and thighs.
8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
People who regularly eat and drink more calories than they burn each day are more likely to gain extra weight, including belly fat. Getting older also makes a difference. People lose muscle as they age. And the problem is worse for those who are not physically active.
A thyroid belly shows abdominal fat accumulation and fluid retention. These signs can look different on everyone. In women, thyroid belly is often more noticeable. This is because of hormones and how fat is stored.
Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness. This problem also can be caused by: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem)
"Endo belly" is the nickname people use for the dramatic swelling that often comes with endometriosis. Your abdomen (belly) may stretch from under your ribs down to your pelvis, leaving your whole midsection tight and painful. Some people say it makes them look six months pregnant.
This commonly occurs due to conditions affecting your digestive system, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation and food intolerances. However, some cases of trapped gas can be due to more serious conditions and a swollen abdomen may also be a sign of trapped fluid (ascites).
For many women, gaining fat in the stomach area occurs with age. As you get older, your metabolism slows down and doesn't burn as many calories. Menopause can also cause insulin resistance and lead to excess belly fat that is hard to lose with just diet and exercise alone.
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.
The only way to lose fat around your middle is to lose overall fat from your body. You can do this by being more active and eating healthy foods. The reason you lose fat when you move more and eat less energy (calories) is because your body uses up more calories than it has creating what's called a 'calorie deficit'.
A recent study of body shape and hormone levels by Jasieńska et al. (2004) reported that women with the body shape that is found most attractive by males (large breasts and a low waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), e.g. Singh 1993; Henss 2000) have higher oestrogen levels than other categories of body shape.
What are the symptoms of low estrogen levels?
Here are six estrogen-positive foods to avoid:
Equally unfortunate is the fact that cortisol belly doesn't have a specific appearance, despite what countless infographics on the internet will tell you. Cortisol belly simply looks like abdominal fat, and there is no way to identify it by appearance.
Common signs
For thyroid health, the "one thing" to focus on daily is a source of iodine, found in dairy, eggs, or seafood, and selenium, best from a few Brazil nuts, both crucial for hormone production, but a balanced breakfast with protein, fiber, and healthy fats, like eggs with spinach or oatmeal with berries, provides comprehensive support, while avoiding excessive iodine or simple sugars is key.
Here are 10 common foods that may be contributing to chronic inflammation and belly fat.
Whether you're overweight or not, carrying excess belly fat is linked to several serious health problems such as: heart and circulatory problems. high blood pressure and stroke. insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Stay hydrated
Drinking water can help move food through your digestive system, preventing constipation and bloating.