:quality(85):upscale()/2024/08/20/824/n/1922729/54a98a9866c4e4ad8bb2a5.66813554_.jpg "Hormonal Belly: Doctors Share What It Is")
Spend more than five minutes scrolling through social media, and you’ll find yourself inundated with a slew of wellness buzzwords, from “cortisol face” to “Pilates arms.” Although misinformation travels quickly online, according to experts, one of these terms is a very real phenomenon, and it may be responsible for a whole host of more serious health concerns, including metabolic issues and chronic stress. It’s called “hormonal belly” — if you’ve never heard of it before, allow us to explain.
Before we dive right in, there’s a few things you should know about fat. While this isn’t the case for everyone, fat can accumulate over time as your metabolism starts to slow down. It can also build up due to lifestyle factors like diet and lack of exercise. That said, one of the lesser known causes of bloating and belly fat are hormonal changes, resulting in what people are now calling “hormonal belly.” Ahead, we spoke to two endocrinologists about what hormonal belly actually is, what causes it, and how to get back to your baseline.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, is a triple board-certified physician and endocrinologist, whose experience emphasizes women’s health and obesity.
Jaime Knopman, MD, is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at CCRM Fertility.
What Is Hormonal Belly?
According to Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, belly fat is most commonly associated with visceral fat, meaning fat that attaches to the liver, pancreas, and other internal organs. It’s not just what you can pinch with your fingers, it’s what accumulates underneath, she explains. As a note, not all belly fat is caused by hormones — your family history may also predispose you to belly fat or metabolic issues, per a study published in the journal “Current Diabetes Reports (more on that in a bit).
When it comes to hormonal belly, Jaime Knopman, MD, says that women can be especially sensitive to changes in hormones like estrogen and progesterone, both of which affect the way the body burns and stores fat. Women also tend to store fat in their lower abdomen, Knopman says. Additionally, when the stress hormone cortisol becomes chronically elevated (due to factors like sleep or stress), it can lead to more “abdominal or visceral fat,” Dr. Salas-Whalen says — though this typically contributes to overall weight gain, not just hormonal belly.
With that in mind, how do you know if your belly is actually caused by hormones? If you’re eating a well-balanced diet and exercising, but still gaining weight in your lower abdomen, it might be a sign that you should contact your doctor, both endocrinologists say. Read on to dive deeper into hormonal belly and what to do about it, including potential underlying conditions, like PCOS and metabolic syndrome.
What Causes Hormonal Belly?
If you think you’re dealing with hormonal belly, there’s a few common culprits to keep in mind. Here’s a few reasons why your hormones may be in flux:
- Menopause: When a woman goes through menopause, the hormone changes — especially the decrease in estrogen — can lead to weight gain and belly fat, Dr. Knopman says. However, Dr. Salas-Whalen adds that weight gain in older women doesn’t necessarily correlate with menopause; it can also result from a slower metabolism in general. Men don’t have as many hormonal fluctuations, but they do eventually go through andropause, “which is when their testosterone levels decrease, and they can also start to gain weight in their stomach area,” Dr. Knopman says.
- IVF: Hormone changes while a person is undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), can also contribute to hormonal belly, Dr. Knopman says. “Oftentimes they will be taking gonadotropins, which are hormones that cause you to produce excess estrogen and then, after you ovulate, excess progesterone,” she explains. As a result, people may experience several pounds of weight fluctuation throughout an IVF cycle.
- PCOS: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), is a condition that affects around 12 percent of people with vaginas and uteruses, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the exact causes are not known, it’s often linked to high androgen levels (male reproductive hormones) and insulin resistance. Common symptoms include irregular periods, acne, thinning or excess hair growth, metabolic problems, and unwanted weight gain (belly fat included).
- Metabolic Syndrome: Dr. Salas-Whalen says that hormonal belly — in men and women — may also be a sign of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic disorders (at least three) that occur together, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or abnormal cholesterol levels, per the Mayo Clinic. This, along with PCOS, can put you at a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The Mayo Clinic also notes that people with metabolic syndrome typically have apple-shaped bodies, meaning they tend to have larger waists and carry most of their weight around their abdomens.
When to See a Doctor
If you’re maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but gaining unwanted weight, it might be a good idea to contact a doctor, Dr. Knopman says. Gaining weight as you age is common, but belly fat specifically can be a red flag for other health problems. If you have a tendency to gain weight in your belly “like your body’s in an apple shape,” Dr. Salas-Whalen says, that’s something you can ask your primary care physician about. You can also go directly to an endocrinologist (if accessible) to have your cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure tested. This can help you determine if you’ve developed any underlying conditions. Specific treatment will vary depending on your health history and specific circumstances, but may include changes to your diet, exercise, medication, or even hormone therapy. Talk to your healthcare provider for the best personalized medical advice.
— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante
Samantha Brodsky is a former assistant editor at PS. She uses her gymnast background to inform her sports and fitness coverage, powering through Peloton videos in her free time.
Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.