No one is crazy about having excess fat anywhere on our bodies, but fat cells in our arms
and legs are usually just inert insulation. Abdominal fat cells, on the other hand, once they
reach a critical mass, actually change their function and begin to act like endocrine glands,
meaning they begin to respond to hormonal input, and even secrete hormones in return.
Functioning as endocrine glands, these cells are not much affected by diet and exercise,
which is why abdominal fat is so darn difficult to shed.
Once abdominal fat has
morphed into an endocrine gland, the whole weight-loss matter of
calories-in versus calories-out equation doesn’t apply anymore. What now governs these
fat cells is hormonal input. The hormones insulin and cortisol send powerful messages to
cause those belly fat cells to continue growing. Since most diets don’t address hormone
levels, they are ultimately ineffective at reducing weight where we would mostly like to
lose it – in our belly.
By the way, when I say abdominal fat I’m not talking about that small roll of a few pounds
that can appear see
mingly overnight sometime around menopause. In the absence of other
symptoms like cravings and insomnia, that little bit of pudge is generally not harmful and
in fact can be very helpful in buffering changes in estrogen levels.
[Source: womensvoicemagazine.com]
Comments