A Big Belly and Not Due to Beer or Eating, Then What Do We do?
A variety of conditions can unbalance a person’s hormones. This disruption can lead to hormonal belly, which is excess weight gain around the stomach.
Sometimes, excess fat around the belly is due to hormones. Hormones help regulate many bodily functions, including metabolism, stress, hunger, and sex drive. If a person has a deficiency in certain hormones, it may result in weight gain around the abdomen, which is known as a hormonal belly.
In this article, we discuss the different causes of hormonal belly and treatment options.
The thyroid releases hormones that help to control metabolism, which is the way the body uses energy. As a result, these hormones affect each organ in the body.
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. When this happens, many of the body’s functions slow down.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a common symptom of an underactive thyroid is weight gain, often around the abdomen.
The American Thyroid Association state that the weight gain may not necessarily be due to the build up of fat but may be due to the accumulation of salt and water.
Treatment
A doctor can prescribe levothyroxine, which is a medication that mimics natural thyroid hormones.
A person can expect to lose less than 10% of body weight as most of the weight gain with hypothyroidism is the accumulation of salt and water.
However, once a person’s thyroid levels are in the typical range, their ability to gain and lose weight is the same as those without hypothyroidism.
Cortisol helps the mind and body manage stress and plays a key role in the fight-or-flight response. When a person feels anxious or stressed, the body often goes into survival mode.
When this happens, the adrenal glands produce more cortisol, which triggers the body to store more fat. The body often redistributes this fat to the stomach, chest, and face.
However, according to the NIDDK, if the body continues to produce high levels of cortisol for an extended period, it can lead to more severe conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, heart conditions, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Cushing’s syndrome can be very serious, and symptoms include:
- fatty hump between a person’s shoulders
- increase in fat around the base of a person’s neck
- thin legs and arms
- easy bruising
- weakened muscles
- purple stretch marks along the abdomen, hips, under the arms, and breasts
Certain drugs, especially glucocorticoids, may cause Cushing’s. Pituitary tumors can also cause this disease.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. If a person has Cushing’s syndrome, treatment may include drug changes or surgery to remove a tumor.
However, if cortisol levels increase due to stress, a person can try some natural ways to reduce it.
The fat cells release a hormone called leptin. Leptin targets nerve cells in the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, and triggers a feeling of fullness. According to an older study, the leptin levels in the body correlate to the amount of fat the body has stored. Higher leptin levels tell the brain that a person has stored enough fat, triggering the feeling of fullness after eating.
People with overweight tend to have lots of body fat in the cells and high levels of leptin. In theory, the brain should know that the body has stored enough energy.
However, if the signaling between leptin and the brain is not working, leptin resistance can occur.
Doctors do not fully understand what causes leptin resistance, though genetic mutations and changes in brain chemistry may play a role.
Treatment
Some research suggests that inflammation may cause leptin resistance.
For this reason, doctors may recommend lifestyle interventions to reduce inflammation, such as exercise or eating an anti-inflammatory diet.
However, research on leptin resistance is relatively new, so no specific remedy offers certainty for treating this symptom.
Some causes of a hormonal belly in males are as follows:
Low testosterone levels
Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone, although females produce it too. Testosterone is the hormone that helps determine typical male characteristics, such as body and facial hair.
It also promotes muscle growth in both genders. According to the Urology Care Foundation, testosterone is a hormone that can decrease as males age. A deficiency can halt muscle growth and lead to weight gain.
One study found that 30% of men with obesity had low testosterone levels.
Testosterone deficiency can occur due to certain medical conditions, such as Noonan syndrome. It can also occur due to damage to or the removal of the testicles.
Other causes can include infection, autoimmune conditions, chemotherapy, and pituitary gland disease.
As well as weight gain, testosterone deficiency can cause the following symptoms:
- erectile dysfunction
- body hair loss
- fatigue
- depression
- reduced sex drive
- loss of muscle mass
Treatment
A doctor may prescribe testosterone supplements or recommend lifestyle changes, such as more exercise and a reduced-calorie diet.
Learn more about low testosterone levels here.
Estrogen levels
There are three types of estrogen in the body:
- estradiol
- estriol
- estrone
According to a 2016 article, in males, estradiol is essential in modulating the libido, the production of sperm, and erectile function.
Low levels of estrogen can cause low sexual desire and excess fat around the belly.
However, according to a 2018 article, high estrogen levels can cause weight gain in males under 60.
Treatment
A doctor may recommend dietary and lifestyle changes, alongside medications.
Learn more about estrogen and weight gain here.
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