Getting rid of belly fat is difficult to do. You can try everything from dieting to exercising, and as a result, nothing works. However, there are other issues that affect the body, which can be the reason as to why you’re not losing belly fat.
Chronic stress
Stress is a major player in stubborn weight loss, according to the website Blum Health MD. We live stressful, fast-paced lives. Stress elevates cortisol and adrenaline, hormones responsible for “fight or flight,” in what your body perceives as an emergency. Once the stressful event is over, our cortisol and adrenaline levels return to normal. This is a healthy stress response.
Chronic stress, however, creates havoc in the body. Cortisol levels, which spike during a stress-inducing event, remain elevated. This rise in cortisol puts a damper on weight loss. In fact, chronically elevated cortisol can cause weight gain. Chronic stress can have a negative effect on the levels of good bacteria in the gut, reducing the ability of the immune system to fight infection. This puts us at risk for autoimmune disease.
Not enough muscle
According to the website Everyday Health, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Muscle tissue consumes more calories than fat tissue, even when you’re at rest. That’s why men burn calories a lot faster than women; they have more muscle.
Lack of consistent quality sleep
The National Library of Medicine discusses a research study that demonstrates the following; slight sleep loss boosts cortisol levels and can accelerate the development of insulin resistance. In fact, one study found that 30 minutes less of sleep a weekday, can increase your risk of obesity and diabetes.
Your medicine cabinet
A host of drugs that treat diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, inflammatory disease and more affect weight regulation, according to Everyday Health. Some will make you hungrier, while others stimulate your body to store fat. If a drug affects the brain, there’s a good chance it affects weight.
Thyroid dysfunction
The website Blum Health MD states that hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, is characterized by unexplained weight gain and/or difficulty losing weight. To find out if your thyroid gland is functioning properly, you will need a blood test ordered by your doctor.
Processed food
According to Women’s Health, if your diet is high in fructose, which is found in lots of processed foods, you’re more at risk for abdominal obesity. This is because your body metabolizes fructose differently, than it does with other forms of sugar. Focus on removing processed foods from your plate.
Sources:
https://blumhealthmd.com/2017/07/26/10-reasons-you-cant-lose-weight/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/weight/9-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9415946
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19962041/belly-fat-workout/
This article is for informative purposes only. Please reach out to a medical professional for more information.
