According to experts, stubborn belly fat is not always simply the result of eating too much or exercising too little. A number of other factors can influence where the body stores fat and how difficult it is to lose—including hormones, stress, sleep, age, genetics, and changes in metabolism.
It May Not Be About Calories Alone
Weight management is often presented as a simple equation: consume fewer calories than you burn, and the body will lose fat.
While energy balance is important, the human body is considerably more complicated than that.
Hormones help regulate appetite, metabolism, blood sugar, stress responses, and fat storage. When these systems are affected by chronic stress, poor sleep, aging, or other lifestyle factors, losing fat can become more difficult—even when someone believes they are doing everything “right.”
This is one reason two people can follow similar diets and exercise routines but experience very different changes in their waistlines.
Stress Could Play a Bigger Role Than You Think
One of the most overlooked factors associated with abdominal fat is chronic stress.
