Why do our bellies get fatter as we get older?

As the years go by, those extra inches around the abdomen tend to sneak up on us, and that’s especially true once we hit our fifties. One major player is hormonal shifts. For women, the onset of menopause often brings about weight gain and a burgeoning belly, thanks to a decline in estrogen levels that prompts the body to store fat in the midsection. And fellas, you're not off the hook either—ageing comes with its own hormonal downturn. A drop in testosterone can lead to an uptick in visceral fat. With time, our bodies are no longer the calorie-burning powerhouses they once were, particularly at rest. Past the age of fifty, the body’s muscles start to shrink, causing a dip in baseline metabolism, which is the ability to burn calories. Does our metabolism changes with age? And how can you fend off that belly bulge? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What is the butterfly effect and how does it affect our lives? Why is there such a taboo over the prostate? How can I know if my partner is micro-cheating on me? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices