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What hormone causes Lovehandles?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 18, 2026

Fat can accumulate anywhere in the body, but there are certain factors that increase the likelihood for retaining fat in the hip, lower back, and abdominal areas. Factors that contribute to love handle formation include: hormones, especially too much cortisol.

What is the main cause of love handles?

Summary. Love handles are a colloquial term for hip and abdomen fat. The body stores this fat, leading to bulges above the hips and around the waists. Poor diet, lack of sleep, and low physical activity are some of the main reasons for fat storage.

How do you get rid of hormonal love handles?

17 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Love Handles

  1. Cut out Added Sugar. Share on Pinterest. ...
  2. Focus on Healthy Fats. Filling up on healthy fats like avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds and fatty fish can help slim your waistline. ...
  3. Fill up on Fiber. ...
  4. Move Throughout the Day. ...
  5. Stress Less. ...
  6. Lift Weights. ...
  7. Get Enough Sleep. ...
  8. Add in Whole-Body Moves.

How do you trigger love handles?

Love handles lie on top of the obliques, which are a very specific group of abdominal muscles. In order to really work those suckers, you have to target them precisely.
...
A 10-Minute Love Handle Workout

  1. 40 Woodchoppers (20 on each side). ...
  2. 50 Russian Twists. ...
  3. 30 Side Plank Hip Lifts (15 on each side). ...
  4. 30 Bicycle Crunches.

Can you get rid of love handles?

Losing love handles (stored fat) and increasing the metabolism so you can lose weight more effectively are all tied into a consistent cardiovascular/resistance training program. The stored fat around your midsection (for men) is typically the last to leave your body, even after months or years of an exercise plan.

36 related questions found

Why won't my love handles go away?

You're eating too much.

While it may seem obvious, but if you want to lose your love handles, you need to consume fewer calories. And one of the easiest ways to do that is to simply reduce your portion sizes. "Creating a deficit of 500 calories a day can help someone lose a pound a week.

Do planks get rid of love handles?

Jordan says planks are one of the best exercises for getting rid of love handles because they engage the whole body and take major effort to hold with perfect form. "Planks create long lines that look great and are good for proper functionality, while crunches shorten the front line of the body," Jordan says.

Are hip dips love handles?

"Love handles," also known as "muffin top," refers to excess fat that accumulates on the sides of one's abdomen. They differ from hip dips in that they are located much higher on the body, settling around a person's waistline.

Are love handles on your hips?

“Love handles” are excess fatty areas that sit on either side of the waist above the hips. While body fat spot reduction is not possible, people wanting to minimize the appearance of love handles may consider trying a few exercises to help tone their abs and hips.

How long does it take to lose love handles?

The length of time to get rid of your love handles will depend on how much fat you have to lose, what lifestyle changes you make, and how well you commit to them. It can take about four weeks of consistency to form new, healthy habits, and up to 10 weeks before they become automatic.

Are love handles genetic?

Are love handles genetic? Partially. As with most things related to your body, there's a blend of your genetic predisposition to certain fat-storage sites, as well as your lifestyle decisions around what you eat, how much you exercise and your stress levels.

What is the cortisol hormone?

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation.

Are love handles subcutaneous or visceral fat?

As seen above, love handles can be considered subcutaneous fat, however, an expanding waistline (love handles included) is a sign of visceral fat (12). To know if your love handles are a sign of visceral fat, just measure yourself, 35 inches or more in women and 40 inches or more in men is a clear sign of visceral fat.

What causes love handles in females?

The underlying cause of love handles is fat retention. Generally speaking, fat cells accumulate when your body takes in too many calories or you don't burn as many calories as you're consuming. Over time, these fat cells can become noticeable as they accumulate in certain areas, such as around your waist and hips.

What is the fat above your hips called?

Fat on your hips and the sides of your abdomen, also called your flanks or love handles, is difficult to lose through typical diet and exercise.

What muscle is under love handles?

Love handles lie on top of the obliques, which are a very specific group of abdominal muscles.

How do you get rid of love handles without weights?

7 Simple Exercises You Can Do to Lose the Love Handles Without the Gym

  1. Woodchoppers. Starting position: Stand upright with your legs hip-width apart. ...
  2. Side plank hip lifts. Starting position: Get into a modified side plank position. ...
  3. Jumping burpees. ...
  4. Kneeling vacuum. ...
  5. Swimmers.

Is muffin top and love handles the same thing?

Love handles, the pinchable fat on both sides of your stomach that leads to a “muffin top” appearance, are especially stubborn. They do not respond as quickly to diet and exercise changes as the more dangerous visceral fat that is deep within your abdomen and leads to more of a “potbelly” appearance.

Does Bella Hadid have hip dips?

Bella Hadid: fashion show hips dips

Paladin number one of the hips dips, capable of enchanting the viewer with any look, is the splendid Bella Hadid.

Can you fill out hip dips?

Fat grafting, also called liposculpting, is a surgical hip dip treatment in which fat is suctioned from one part of your body and injected into the hip dip area, filling it up to make them look round and voluminous.

How can I lose my love handles in two weeks?

A healthy, calorie-controlled diet and a regular regimen of cardio and strength-training exercise will whittle away lower back fat and love handles, and in two weeks' time, you may start to see a difference.

Do squats help lose love handles?

"For love handles, you have to work your legs. They're the biggest muscle group in your body and they use the most amount of energy. They're going to strip fat quicker than any plank. You need to do five sets of squats a day, increasing your weights daily.

What does high cortisol feel like?

Some of the most common signs of high cortisol levels include: weight gain — particularly around your stomach, upper back, and face. fatigue. getting sick often.