Why Belly Fat Is Less About Calories + More About Hormones

by Dr. Will Cole

What is it about the modern world that has spurred an epidemic of weight gain? The problem is getting more serious by the day; with nearly two-thirds of Americans considered either obese or overweight, our society’s weight problems account for almost 21 percent of all health care costs in the United States. Many people have tried to blame this unfortunate situation on any number of things, from trans fats to high fructose corn syrup to pollution. The real answer is probably “all these things and much more,” but in the meantime, millions of people struggle to lose weight throughout their entire lives, often with little to no success.

We can see evidence of this struggle in the ever-increasing number of fad diets claiming to be the magic solution for all our weight loss troubles. Unfortunately, contrary to what conventional medicine may tell you, weight loss is more than just a matter of “calories in, calories out,” or some other simple trick, and restricting your food intake is not necessarily the key to losing weight. For the majority of people, sustainable weight loss is anything but a simple formula, and there is a reason for that: The human body is complex, and each person is unique.

Body weight, weight gain, and weight loss are all way more complex than we thought.

Traditionally, it has been a generally accepted belief that weight gain causes health problems, but in my years of clinical experience as a functional medicine practitioner, I have come to believe that weight gain, as well as an inability to lose weight, is often a symptom of an underlying health problem that has yet to be addressed. In other words, a health problem could be causing your weight problems, rather than the other way around. It could be a side effect!

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