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. 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 pin.