Belly fat tends to creep in during middle age, especially in women who have gone through menopause. Women tend to take on an apple shape as they age because fat gain most commonly travels up to the belly when estrogen levels diminish. You may be led to believe that hormone replacement therapy could cause a reverse effect, but the process may not be so simple.
Dangers of Belly Fat
Having too much belly fat may be aesthetically unpleasant, but it can also be harmful to your health. Deeply deposited belly fat surrounds organs in your abdominal cavity and is linked to health problems such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and stroke, according to MayoClinic.com. Having too much belly fat may also increase your risk of premature death regardless of your total weight. As a result, you should get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible if you believe you are gaining too much fat in your midsection.
Ambiguous Research
Some research suggests that hormone replacement therapy can help prevent increases in belly fat in post-menopausal women. For instance, a 2003 study at the Guma University School of Medicine in Japan found that post-menopausal women were less likely to see increases in deeply deposited abdominal fat if they were on hormone replacement therapy. However, women who took hormone replacements were more likely than others to have an increase in blood fats called triglycerides. Not all bodies of research come to the same conclusion. Because of this--and because the benefits may not outweigh the risks--hormone replacement therapy isn't generally used for the sole purpose of combating belly fat.
A New Light
Results of 2009 research at the Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil suggest that hormone replacement therapy can help reduce waist size in older women who are active. The study defines "active" as taking at least 6,000 steps a day, or about 2 ¼ miles per day. Another bonus is that active women on hormone replacement therapy were more likely to have increased "good" cholesterol levels. Furthermore, active older women were more likely to have a high "good" cholesterol levels and a lower waist size with each extra step they took.
A Healthier Lifestyle
You can take steps to reduce your belly fat and lower your risk of health problems whether or not your doctor recommends that you take hormone replacement therapy. A healthy diet and regular exercise go a long way in fighting off excess body fat, so emphasize plant foods such as fruits and vegetables in your diet, reduce your intake of saturated fat and increase your intake of lean proteins and unsaturated fat. Furthermore, include at least 150 minutes of moderate-paced aerobic activity and at least two strength-training sessions in your weekly routine to burn off excess calories.
References
- ScienceDaily; Hormone Therapy Plus Physical Activity Reduce Belly Fat, Percentage After Menopause; June 19, 2009
- The Cochrane Collaboration; Oestrogen and progestogen hormone replacement therapy for peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women: weight and body fat distribution; E. J. Kongnyuy, et al.; 2000
- "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders"; Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Weight, Abdominal Fat Distribution and Lipid Levels; H. Sumino, et al; Sept. 2003
- Harvard Health Publications: Abdominal Fat and What to Do About it
- MayoClinic.com; Belly fat in women: Taking -- and keeping -- it off; April 2011
