Abdominal Fat
Testosterone is the defining hormone for men. It’s what inspires men to procreate, protect, and provide. An imbalance of testosterone is also probably what you’d expect to cause these sorts of symptoms:
- Decreased muscle mass, and strength
- Decreased urine flow
- Lower sex drive
- Prostate problems
- Increased urinary urge
But just like with women, testosterone imbalances can lead to symptoms beyond just sexual function and muscle development. Weight gain around the waist is one of the stronger indicators of a testosterone imbalance, but there others like:
- Bone loss
- Fatigue
- Low energy level
Because testosterone is converted to estrogen in fat cells, particularly in abdominal fat, the more abdominal fat you have, the more estrogen is being produced, and the less testosterone is available to regulate body fat. Testosterone is also a regulator of cognitive and physical energy, and plays a large role in maintaining bone mass.
