Belly Fat Reduction & Estrogen Replacement Therapy - HerKare (2024)

Estrogen replacement therapy helps reduce many symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and vagin*l dryness. However, it may offer another benefit. During menopause, you may notice that you seem to accumulate more fat in your abdominal area. Studies show that estrogen replacement therapy may help you avoid this issue. Learn more about how hormone therapy can help you reduce your belly fat during menopause.

Menopause and Abdominal Fat

The hormonal changes we experience during menopause can affect how our bodies store fat. While age-related weight gain happens for both men and women, menopausal women specifically may start to notice more fat in their abdominal area. Estrogen levels help control how your body distributes fat. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can lead to accumulating fat in your belly. This not only affects many women’s self-esteem but is also a risk factor for serious health complications such as diabetes and heart disease.

Your hormone doctor may recommend estrogen replacement therapy to help reduce your symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, mood changes, and difficulty sleeping. In addition to helping with these disruptive symptoms, it may also help with belly fat during menopause.

How Estrogen Replacement Therapy Can Help with Belly Fat During Menopause

Recent studies show that menopausal women on hormone therapy tend to have less body fat, especially visceral belly fat. Because estrogen affects how your body distributes fat, low estrogen levels can contribute to gaining fat in your belly area. However, estrogen replacement therapy can help your body redistribute this fat to different areas on your body, rather than your abdominal area. This is a key benefit of estrogen therapy, as belly fat specifically increases your risk for many negative health consequences.

In addition to fat redistribution, estrogen replacement therapy may help add to a healthy exercise regimen. Researchers have found that menopausal hormone replacement therapy may help the effects of exercise on body fat. Additionally, estrogen replacement therapy can help you feel well enough to exercise regularly. Therefore, if you have symptoms of menopause that interfere with your life and also notice you’re gaining more belly fat than you used to, talk to your hormone doctor about your options. In many cases, hormone replacement therapy can help you feel better and improve your overall health.

At HerKare, we provide personalized healthcare for women. Our clinic is owned and operated by women for women, and we understand the unique concerns that you may have. We want to help you feel great and help you discover the source of your symptoms. Book an appointment online with one of our warm and welcoming women’s health clinics today to start your path toward better wellness. We are here to listen and to help you feel better again.

Belly Fat Reduction & Estrogen Replacement Therapy - HerKare (2024)

FAQs

Belly Fat Reduction & Estrogen Replacement Therapy - HerKare? ›

How Estrogen Replacement Therapy Can Help with Belly Fat During Menopause. Recent studies show that menopausal women on hormone therapy tend to have less body fat, especially visceral belly fat. Because estrogen affects how your body distributes fat, low estrogen levels can contribute to gaining fat in your belly area.

Does estrogen replacement reduce belly fat? ›

A new study of more than 1,000 postmenopausal women, ages 50 to 80, found that those who were currently taking hormones had significantly lower levels of tummy fat than women who had never used them.

Will taking estradiol help me lose weight? ›

Thus, estradiol increases energy expenditure by increasing BAT thermogenesis, and WAT browning. This, in combination with estradiol's effects to decrease food intake, can result in weight loss.

How do I reset my hormones to lose belly fat? ›

You can overcome hormonal changes that are impacting your body weight by choosing low-calorie-dense foods. These foods help stave off hunger and cravings. “This facilitates your ability to alter your body composition and helps you get back to feeling the way you did before the hormone changes.”

Will I gain weight on an estradiol patch? ›

Hormone replacement therapy boosts the levels of hormones lost during menopause. There is no evidence that HRT leads to weight gain or weight loss.

Is belly fat high or low estrogen? ›

Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older even if they don't gain weight. This is likely due to a lower level of estrogen because estrogen seems to have an effect on where fat is located in the body.

How to get rid of menopause belly fat? ›

Losing Belly Fat During Menopause
  1. Balanced Diet: Try eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. ...
  2. Portion Control: Decrease portion sizes to avoid overeating by using smaller plates to help control portion. ...
  3. Hydration: Drink plenty of water daily to stay hydrated and help control appetite.
Dec 12, 2023

What is the best hormone for weight loss? ›

Leptin is a hormone produced in fat cells that is directly involved in regulating body weight. It does this by signaling to the body it is time to shed fat. When you are gaining weight, excess fat cells will cause your leptin level to rise.

Does taking estrogen make you curvy? ›

Estrogen helps make women curvier than men by making their pelvis and hips wider, and their breast grow. Estrogen is part of your menstrual cycle, helps you get pregnant, and plays a role in helping you develop bones and grow hair. It also helps regulate your moods and impacts your brain development and structure.

Which hormone is responsible for weight loss? ›

Leptin reduces a person's appetite by acting on specific centres of their brain to reduce their urge to eat. It also seems to control how the body manages its store of body fat. Because leptin is produced by fat, leptin levels tend to be higher in people who are obese than in people of normal weight.

What does a cortisol belly look like? ›

The adrenal glands are part of your endocrine system and release cortisol into your bloodstream. It then flows throughout your body and can lead to a specific appearance and feel in your abdominal area. A stress belly will likely appear more “saggy” than the rest of the fat on your body.

How do you get rid of cortisol belly? ›

Reducing cortisol belly fat may require a multi-faceted approach towards nutrition, exercise, and an active lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy diet is important. This involves creating a calorie deficit by focusing on nutrient-dense foods and avoiding inflammatory processed foods.

What does a hormonal belly look like? ›

A hormonal belly typically appears as accumulated fat around your waist, typically towards your lower waist. There are a few tell-tale signs that this excess weight is due to hormonal causes: You're only gaining weight around your abdomen. Women typically gain weight on their butts, hips and thighs.

Is 1 mg of estradiol a lot? ›

That's because higher doses of estradiol are more likely to cause vagin*l bleeding and sore breasts. They may also carry a higher risk of uterine cancer and blood clots than lower doses. Generally, 0.5 mg of oral estradiol daily is considered “low-dose” estradiol. And a “standard” estradiol dose is 1 mg daily.

What's the difference between estradiol and estrogen? ›

Estrone (E1) is the primary form of estrogen that your body makes after menopause. Estradiol (E2) is the primary form of estrogen in your body during your reproductive years. It's the most potent form of estrogen. Estriol (E3) is the primary form of estrogen during pregnancy.

Can I drink alcohol while taking estradiol? ›

Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.

What are the benefits of replacing estrogen? ›

You take the medication to replace the estrogen that your body stops making during menopause. Hormone therapy is most often used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vagin*l discomfort. Hormone therapy has also been proved to prevent bone loss and reduce fracture in postmenopausal women.

What hormones cause lower belly fat? ›

What causes hormonal belly? Many hormone shifts can lead to abdominal weight gain, from thyroid disorders to the menstrual cycle. In males, it may result from low testosterone levels or changes in estrogen levels. In females, it can occur due to PCOS, fluid retention, or menopause.

Which hormone replacement therapy is best for weight loss? ›

Bioidentical hormone therapy can bring your hormones back into balance to give you a boost with your weight loss or weight maintenance goals. Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones which are produced naturally in your body. They are so identical, in fact, that your body can't distinguish the difference.

Does estrogen replacement make you look younger? ›

Restoring estrogen levels won't stop aging, but it can delay or reverse the signs of aging we often associate with aging, helping you maintain smooth, supple, wrinkle-free skin. While Hormone Replacement Therapy is not a miracle cure for aging, it can play a significant role in helping you look and feel younger.

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