Does every pound pass through the mouth, as the expression claims? It’s not that simple. Your amount of body fat is caused by a complex interplay of lifestyle, genetic predisposition and countless hormones. Below are four hormones that have an influence.
1. Sex hormones
Thanks to testosterone, men accumulate fat more quickly in the abdomen, women more often around the buttocks and hips thanks to their estrogen. During menopause, the hormone balance changes, which often causes a belly to appear in women.
2. Growth hormones
As we get older we produce less and less growth hormones, which causes muscle mass to decrease and fat mass to increase.
3. Stresshormoon cortisol
Cortisol signals to the brain, among other things, to eat a high-calorie diet. This is the reason that long-term stress can manifest itself in the number on the scale. Furthermore, fat can move from arms and legs to the abdomen due to cortisol.
4. Leptin
This hormone monitors fat stores and indicates when to stop eating and boost fat burning. In case of severe overweight (obesity), the hormone balance is disturbed and leptin no longer transmits the correct signals. Without medical guidance it is therefore very difficult to (permanently) restore this balance.
Also interesting: Why BMI is a misleading means of measuring obesity.
2024-02-08 17:12:31
#pound #mouth #role #hormones
