Causes of Hormonal Belly
First of all: Persistently high cortisol level- Cortisol, which is a stress hormone, has been severally linked with obesity and pot belly. Repeated high levels of cortisol can lead to weight gain via visceral fat storage in which cortisol activates fatty acids from storage and transfer them to visceral fat cells. These cells are located under the muscles and the liver deep in the abdomen. Cortisol also aids adipocytes’ development into mature fat cells in. Furthermore, visceral fat cells have more cortisol receptors than subcutaneous fat.
An alternative way in which cortisol may be involved in developing hormonal belly is via the insulin-counter mechanism. Cortisol counters the action of insulin, thereby decreasing the amount of glucose getting into the cell. These cells starve and cry for energy which stimulates hunger and overfeeding even at a relatively fair blood sugar level which is eventually stored as body fat.
Second: Insulin-resistance- Natural insulin resistance in people who are genetically predisposed can still lead to hormonal belly by the action of starving the cells and causing hunger even in adequate blood glucose levels.
Third: High estrogen level and low testosterone- Estrogen levels can be high in females who started showing secondary sexual characteristics earlier than usual, women on estrogen medications and hormone replacement therapy. Low testosterone due to excessive conversion to estrogens is also noteworthy. High levels of estrogen can counter the actions of insulin which have been shown to be the corner-stone in the development of hormonal belly.
Fourth: Overfeeding- When you eat more than your body requires, and it is not eliminated. The excess sugar, amino acids or fatty acids are automatically converted to fats to be stored. The abdomen is usually one of the preferred sites for the storage of these excesses.
Fifth: Poor dietary fibre- Soluble dietary fibre has been shown to give you a healthier gut bacteria and reduce your appetite. So people who overfeed in meals low in fibre are very much at risk of hormonal belly.
