Why Women Have Lower Belly Fat

The so-called ‘lower belly pooch’ has been a target of insecurity on social media for women. (shuttershock.com)

With heroin-chic skinny trending again on the internet, it is so crucial to understand the biological reason for our bodies to be shaped the way they are and why, no matter how much you diet, you won’t lose that lower belly fat.

The internet has the belief that a woman’s lower belly ‘pooch’ - as it is commonly referred to - is the uterus itself. In fact, it is a layer of subcutaneous fat that protects the vital and reproductive organs.

It is anatomically correct and natural for women in a healthy weight range to have lower belly fat. The storage of this fat is due to the female reproductive hormone, estrogen, which is crucial to the menstrual cycle.

The time of day and where you are in your menstrual cycle will also change how big your stomach appears. Eating and drinking cause bloating, like how increased estrogen production causes higher water retention.

Losing this ‘pooch’ is possible, but not healthy. As you would have to lose a lot of weight before your body burns this fat, it can result in a slower metabolism, hormonal imbalances, smaller breasts, fatigue, and nutrient imbalances.

Many workouts or diets promoting a flat lower stomach are likely fake. It is so important with the growing use of AI-generated images that we understand ourselves and don’t believe everything we see blindly.