Putting on weight is not pleasant, especially the accumulation of fat in certain places. We can't control where our body tends to grow because it's a genetically determined process. However, when fat begins to accumulate mainly around the waist, it may be a signal of a hormonal problem or imbalance.
Belly fat is one of the most problematic types of body fat that can cause many other he alth problems.
What are the symptoms that belly fat accumulation is caused by hormonal imbalance?
Your waist is increasing and you are eating right
When insulin levels in the blood are too high, the hormone leptin, which is responsible for sending satiety signals to the brain, also increases. This makes the cells in the body more and more resistant to insulin, and the hunger - more and more. As we age, especially in women, resistance increases due to the increasing dominance of estrogen in the body. This combination of hormonal fluctuations makes it very easy to accumulate fat, especially around the waist.
The hunger for sweets is increasing
Insulin resistance can also have another side effect – ravenous hunger for sweets and desserts. This is again due to high leptin levels, which are a consequence of insulin resistance.
Mood swings
When women enter perimenopause and menopause, natural estrogen levels fluctuate. This can lead to significant mood swings, increased waistline and overall weight gain.
Constant Stress
Another hormone that plays an important role in the appearance of the "hormonal belly" is cortisol. This stress hormone causes fat to accumulate in the abdominal area when the body is exposed to its high levels for too long. That is, if you suffer from chronic stress at work and in your daily life, it is likely that the weight in your waist area is precisely due to cortisol.
You're exhausted but can't sleep
Insomnia and severe fatigue are symptoms of a hormonal imbalance that causes fat to accumulate around the waist. A person falls into a vicious cycle in which lack of sleep causes extreme exhaustion, which in turn increases stress levels, and stress hormones interfere with normal sleep processes.
High cortisol, on the other hand, can cause decreased thyroid function, which in turn causes obesity.
