What Causes Belly Fat?

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Most people are concerned about belly fat and its negative effects on their health. For this very reason, they are most interested in reducing belly fat easy and thorough. However, before taking action in order to lose accumulated fat around the waistline, it could be wise to explore why belly fat forms and what causes it. That could explain why so many people cannot lose weight in spite of rigorous diet and intense exercise regime. Understanding how belly fat forms will help to decide what changes are necessary to undertake and reduce the fat surplus. Fat cells formed when the fetus is only three months old. This number of cells become visible at puberty and remains constant unless the body mass will not significantly increase. With body development, fat cells grow bigger and can enlarge 6 times its size. From a biological perspective, our body needs fat cells not only as fuel, but also as building blocks necessary for survival. Thus, belly fat often serves as protective factor, which helps the body to cope well with stress. The article “What’s Really Causing That Belly Fat, and What You Can Do About It” explains what happens on a hormonal level and what causes belly fat.

Belly Fat: A Signal of Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal imbalance can contribute to an expanded waistline. Here’s the science: Normally when we feel hungry, our blood sugar drops and the brain sends a message to the adrenal glands to release cortisol. Cortisol activates glucose, fat and amino acids to keep the body fueled until we eat. Cortisol maintains blood-sugar levels, and insulin helps cells absorb glucose.

When we have long-term stress, both insulin and cortisol remain elevated in the blood, and the extra glucose is stored as fat—mostly in the abdomen. Scientists have discovered that fat cells actually have special receptors for cortisol. There are more of these receptors in our abdominal fat cells than anywhere else in the body. In addition, scientists have shown that belly fat is actually an active tissue, acting like an endocrine organ that responds to stress responses by actually welcoming more fat to be deposited. This is an ongoing cycle until steps are taken to correct this adrenal imbalance.

Now, it is clearer that hormones and stress can have a significant effect on belly fat. To reduce the extra fat around the waist, the changes in lifestyle, especially the ones that can diminish stress are necessary. Sometimes, much more can be done when the perception of what is causing the stress alters. Learning to accept all situations and life circumstances with peace and inner strength will decrease stress level notably. Some techniques, such as relaxation, meditation, yoga, etc. release accumulated stress greatly and help finding inner harmony within oneself. It is amazing how these techniques together with a proper diet and regular exercising can make miracles happen.