What Causes Excess Belly Fat?

Belly fat is very frustrating because not only is it really easy to get, but it is very difficult to get rid of. It seems like it only takes a couple of weeks to gain weight in the stomach area, but months and months are required to make it disappear. The good news is that with the proper balance of diet and exercise, tummy fat can melt away in a matter of days instead of months.

The buildup of excess fat around the stomach can be blamed on a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is a steroid hormone which is released during the body's stress response. Cortisol is actually very helpful during a fight-or-flight situation, but the problems begin after the emergency is over. The cortisol just lingers in your body even though it is no longer needed, and it ends up causing your appetite to increase, and it makes your body to hold onto carbohydrates and fats. This is why people who live stressful lives tend to gain weight and have a difficult time losing it.