What causes a Thickened Waist and Belly Fat?
The reasons are many and when combined, exacerbate the problem: changes to hormone levels, decreased levels of activity, slower metabolism and stress causing the hormone cortisol which increases the level of fats and sugar in the bloodstream.
Cortisol will take the fats and sugars and stack them near to the liver, which is on the waist and onto the belly.
Stress is relative (we do not all react to the same stress levels) so even a small amount of stress, if continuous can make this problem worse.
There are of course, times in your life when your waist is larger than your hips - pregnancy and more problematic pregnancy in your late thirties.
The menopause and perimenopause presents problems because of the changes in hormones and decreased oestrogen levels. Combined with loss of muscle tone, decreased activity, slower metabolism there is a likelihood of increased fat around the middle.