Q I'm a 52-year-old homemaker and my arms and legs stayed the same, but fat has piled up only around my lower belly and waist. Why does fat gather only on the belly like this?
A When female hormones decrease, fat shifts toward accumulating around the abdomen (visceral fat) rather than the hips and thighs. That is why the arms and legs stay the same while the belly seems to stick out. This is a common body shape change during menopause.
Detailed Answer
In younger years fat mainly builds up under the skin in areas like the hips and thighs, but after menopause, hormonal changes cause it to accumulate first as visceral fat around the abdomen. Visceral fat makes the belly look rounded from the outside and also affects blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, so it needs more attention.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
Dongjedang reads stagnation in the lower belly and waist as a sign that circulation is suppressed and excess has clustered in one place. Swelling and a feeling of heaviness often come together with it. We work to release the stagnation, open up circulation, and clear the accumulated excess so that waist size and body weight decrease together as metabolism is revived.
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