Belly fat is a common problem among both men and women at various points in their lives, often caused by hormonal shifts, stress, bad diet, or unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Women tend to gain excess belly fat due to hormones, motherhood, stress and poor eating habits. Subcutaneous and visceral fat deposits are two common types of belly fat accumulation.
Adrenal Belly
Are You Tired of Eating Healthy, Exercising Regularly and Sleeping Enough, but Still Can’t Shed the “Muffin Top?” The issue may lie within adrenal fatigue; one solution might not lie with stricter dieting or increased gym time but instead with decreasing cortisol levels to solve your stress belly!
Adrenal fat occurs when hormones released by the adrenal gland cause excess weight around the abdominal region. This condition affects both men and women and may lead to back pain, fatigue, nervousness, memory issues and sleep disturbance. An adrenal belly is typically saggy in appearance; elevated cortisol levels cause it by making your body store fat as an energy conserving method.
Individuals looking to lower their cortisol levels should aim to decrease the intake of sugary foods and drinks while including healthy protein-rich foods in their diet. Furthermore, they should eat foods rich in magnesium and potassium which have been shown to ease symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue such as headaches, brain fog and bloating.
Nutrition Response Testing can also provide another viable approach for those with this body type, based on the theory that our bodies know exactly what is required for optimal health. Nutrition Response Testing involves performing noninvasive assessments on organs and systems to identify root causes of imbalance and determine solutions.
Ovarian Belly Fat: What Causes it and How Can We Treat it? An ovary belly occurs due to excess female hormone oestrogen; usually caused by menstruation and subsequent pregnancy hormonal fluctuations that shift oestrogen levels too rapidly; often appearing round with pregnancy-like features resembling those seen during menstruation or shortly after giving birth, making for difficult fat reduction. These stubborn bulges should work closely with healthcare providers on finding effective methods for eliminating it.
Thyroid Belly
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck, produces hormones that assist the body with using energy effectively and efficiently. Any issues with this gland can slow metabolism and contribute to weight gain; an unexplained weight increase could indicate low thyroid hormone levels or hypothyroidism – both conditions which a doctor can prescribe medication to treat in order to restore normal levels and thus help decrease the amount of abdominal fat by returning your hormone levels to their original levels – although note that weight loss due to medication will likely involve water and salt rather than fat reduction!
Hormonal imbalances that lead to hormonal belly can produce other symptoms, including bloating and digestive issues. Hormonal belly fat may also produce feelings of fullness after meals and hard to the touch texture; typically these signs indicate overall health issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an underactive thyroid or irritable bowel syndrome.
Women experiencing hormonal belly issues often report heavier periods, headaches and difficulty with ovulation. Ovarian cysts may form, as well as difficulty losing tummy fat – this type of fat often appears around menopause due to changes in hormones triggering it.
Researchers have recently identified an association between abdominal fat distribution and thyroid hormones. A study published in Obesity Reviews discovered that people’s BMI and W were positively associated with free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels as well as the ratio FT3/FT4 ratio among euthyroid, middle-aged populations.
One key strategy for those suffering from hormonal belly should be limiting their intake of carbohydrates, as these can increase production of cortisol which increases belly fat production. They should consume lean meats and healthy plant-sourced fats to support thyroid health as well as make sure to get plenty of rest, which will improve hormone functions and eventually aid in eliminating hormonal belly fat.
Liver Belly
This type of belly fat can be found among people who consume an excessive amount of alcohol. This kind of abdominal fat is marked by an enlarged abdomen resulting from excess fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity (called ascites) – often with skinny legs and arms but full, round midsection. Hormonal changes occurring during menstruation or after pregnancy may also play a part in creating this form of abdominal fat; those experiencing this type may experience heavier periods, headaches, acne outbreaks, ovarian cysts, joint pain fatigue bloating depression compared with adrenal and thyroid variants which affect men only.
This form of stomach fat has been linked with liver conditions. People suffering from such belly fat are more prone to suffering from fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Furthermore, this kind of belly fat may contribute to heart disease and obesity.
The easiest way to reduce this type of belly fat is through cutting back on alcohol and sugary beverages and eating a diet consisting of vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats from nuts, avocados and olive oil. Regular exercise should also be included and complex carbs limited only after physical activity.
Hepatek capsules can also provide support and cleansing of the liver. With ingredients designed to enhance liver function and prevent fatty liver disease, these supplements can help cleanse and support it effectively. Hepatek is widely available at health food stores as well as online. For optimal results it is advised to follow a regular schedule including adequate rest and stress reduction.
Subcutaneous Belly
Subcutaneous fat is the soft, pinchable material beneath the skin, usually found on thighs, hips and abdominal area. While subcutaneous fat does not disrupt body’s functions as much as visceral belly fat does, people who are obese are more likely to be burdened by subcutaneous fat deposits.
Visceral belly fat lives within your abdominal cavity and surrounds the organs, protruding like an “apple”. It produces chemicals and hormones that may harm the body – creating an “apple-shaped” protrusion from which comes an apple-shaped protrusion in your stomach and producing chemicals and hormones harmful to health; such fat has been linked with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and more.
Visceral fat has also been linked with dementia, liver problems, gall bladder issues and more. Visceral fat slows the body’s metabolism leading to glucose intolerance and elevated lipid levels; over time this type of visceral fat may increase due to hormonal shifts, inactivity and an unhealthy diet containing sugary drinks, fast food and saturated/trans fats. As you age it’s also easier to develop visceral fat due to changes to hormonal systems as well as lifestyle factors including increased sugar consumption (fast food etc) etc.
Subcutaneous fat serves not only as energy storage but also protects muscles and bones from injury by acting as an energy buffer and helping nerves and blood vessels access muscles beneath the skin. Genetics and diet can both have an influence on this deep fat deposit’s amount.
Women tend to store more subcutaneous fat, yet do not develop as much visceral abdominal fat like men do. Because of this imbalance in fat distribution, their waistlines often grow over time even though their weight remains the same. This results in inches being added onto their waistline even if weight remains the same.
Even if your body shape is either “pear shaped” with larger hips and thighs or an “apple shape”, determining whether you have visceral or subcutaneous belly fat is easy with just one glance and tape measure measurement of waist size. A waist measurement of 35 or higher for women and 40+ for men indicates too much belly fat is present – use this ratio or BMI instead for more accurate tracking! You can also use tape measures when wearing tight clothing to see how your stomach appears; tape measures are useful tools when wearing tight dresses or pants!
GetHealthy