Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD Hormones play a major role in energy usage and storage, metabolism, growth, and fat distribution. When hormone levels shift, unexpected weight gain may occur.

Belly fat can result from hormonal dysregulations, stress, and an obesogenic environment. However, inflammation caused by microbiome imbalance and insulin resistance plays a role.

On the other hand, inflammation may contribute to fat storage, according to a paper by Jianping Ye and Jeffrey N. Keller.The inflammatory response may induce energy expenditure “in a feedback ...