Estrogen therapy fat redistribution

[Lucca]

I read in one place that going on estrogen might cause some loss in belly fat as it gets redistributed elsewhere, another place said that this doesn't happen. So I was wondering what other peoples' experience with this was, did anyone lose stomach/abdomen mass as a part of HRT?

[Jessica]

I myself didn't have a lot of belly fat, but I understand that belly fat is easier lost before starting hrt.  Fat has redistributed in my butt, legs and hips, which has made my waist seem thinner.

[Deborah]

HRT by itself won't move belly fat.  You have to do that the old fashion way with diet and exercise.


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[MissyMay2.0]

A misconception about HRT fat redistribution is that fat that has been stored in typical male storage areas (e.g., belly) will be moved to typical female areas of storage like the hips and butt; however this is not the case, what actually happens is that new fat will start to accumulate in typical female areas after some time on HRT, so the old fat will remain in the previous areas such as the belly, so you have to lose the fat through dieting; however, there's a catch 22 with dieting, because you can't spot reduce body fat, therefore when you lose fat, you lose it over your entire body, and if you're losing fat it can't accumulate in the desired areas of the body. There's a caloric formula for weight gain and loss; i.e.,  it takes an 3500 extra (above what your body uses in a day for energy) per week to gain weight, so, if your weight is sustained by 2,000 calories a day you would need to consume an extra 500 calories each day (7x500=3,500) to gain 1lb each week, and the opposite is required to lose weight (e.g., 2,000 calories per day to maintain current weight would require you to drop your caloric intake to 1,500 calories per day to lose weight), and if you are losing weight, how is your body going to be able to store fat in new areas of your body? And even if you don't have to lose excess body fat in a typical male area of the body; it still takes several years for your body's cells to convert from creating/maintaining male secondary sex characteristics to female, so, HRT is a process of gradual subtle changes.

[Shellie Hart]

I read in one place that going on estrogen might cause some loss in belly fat as it gets redistributed elsewhere, another place said that this doesn't happen. So I was wondering what other peoples' experience with this was, did anyone lose stomach/abdomen mass as a part of HRT?

Other than breast growth, I never had much fat re-distribution until nearly 22 months. Suddenly I have large fat mounds high on my hips and on my butt now. But no real change to belly fat (I didn't have much there anyway). As always, YMMV....

[AnamethatstartswithE]

For me, my weight fluctuates by several pounds over a week, but my waist remains the same, and my chest and hips seem to change with it. This is different than before hrt. As with everything else hrt related ymmv.

[MissyMay2.0]

Other than breast growth, I never had much fat re-distribution until nearly 22 months. Suddenly I have large fat mounds high on my hips and on my butt now. But no real change to belly fat (I didn't have much there anyway). As always, YMMV....

I read that fat cells that are stored in one area of the body will remain there, so if you lose body fat, the fat cells will get smaller, but they will stay in place, so if you lose weight while on HRT, and then try to gain weight in hopes of storing fat in your hips and butt, this may happen, however, you will also gain the fat back in your belly since you still have the same number of fat cells remaining there.   I also read that one of the principles of the Brazilian Butt Lift, is to remove fat from an area that you typically store fat in, and transfer the fat into your butt, and when you gain weight, the fat that would have gone to your belly will now fill those fat cells that have been relocated to your butt (and that, according to what I read, is dependent on how much of the fat that was transferred into your butt establishes a good blood supply and thrives in its new location).

[Charlie Nicki]

I read that fat cells that are stored in one area of the body will remain there, so if you lose body fat, the fat cells will get smaller, but they will stay in place, so if you lose weight while on HRT, and then try to gain weight in hopes of storing fat in your hips and butt, this may happen, however, you will also gain the fat back in your belly since you still have the same number of fat cells remaining there.   I also read that one of the principles of the Brazilian Butt Lift, is to remove fat from an area that you typically store fat in, and transfer the fat into your butt, and when you gain weight, the fat that would have gone to your belly will now fill those fat cells that have been relocated to your butt (and that, according to what I read, is dependent on how much of the fat that was transferred into your butt establishes a good blood supply and thrives in its new location).

Yes, based on what my doctor told me, I think this is correct.

In my case I've definitely gained more weight around my butt but nothing too significant, and I still gain weight in my belly (thankfully I don't have much of a belly).

[Lucca]

My concern is that I think I actually already have a decent bone structure for hips, but the thing that keeps them from being visible (other than clothing choices) is that my waist fat juts out at the sides and is a bit wider than my hips. I'm not overweight or anything either, I just have a pretty normal male fat distribution. So, I guess it's not really "belly fat" per se, but I'm just confused about what changes are supposed to take place that would give someone more feminine hips. Of course, usual disclaimers of "everyone's different and will get different results," etc.

[Dani]

A misconception about HRT fat redistribution is that fat that has been stored in typical male storage areas (e.g., belly) will be moved to typical female areas of storage like the hips and butt; however this is not the case, what actually happens is that new fat will start to accumulate in typical female areas after some time on HRT, so the old fat will remain in the previous areas such as the belly, so you have to lose the fat through dieting; however, there's a catch 22 with dieting, because you can't spot reduce body fat, therefore when you lose fat, you lose it over your entire body, and if you're losing fat it can't accumulate in the desired areas of the body. There's a caloric formula for weight gain and loss; i.e.,  it takes an 3500 extra (above what your body uses in a day for energy) per week to gain weight, so, if your weight is sustained by 2,000 calories a day you would need to consume an extra 500 calories each day (7x500=3,500) to gain 1lb each week, and the opposite is required to lose weight (e.g., 2,000 calories per day to maintain current weight would require you to drop your caloric intake to 1,500 calories per day to lose weight), and if you are losing weight, how is your body going to be able to store fat in new areas of your body? And even if you don't have to lose excess body fat in a typical male area of the body; it still takes several years for your body's cells to convert from creating/maintaining male secondary sex characteristics to female, so, HRT is a process of gradual subtle changes.

This is the best explanation I have ever heard of how fat gain and loss really works.

Thank you Missy May

[MissyMay2.0]

This is the best explanation I have ever heard of how fat gain and loss really works.

Thank you Missy May

I'm glad you found it helpful😊

[Doreen]

A misconception about HRT fat redistribution is that fat that has been stored in typical male storage areas (e.g., belly) will be moved to typical female areas of storage like the hips and butt; however this is not the case, what actually happens is that new fat will start to accumulate in typical female areas after some time on HRT, so the old fat will remain in the previous areas such as the belly, so you have to lose the fat through dieting; however, there's a catch 22 with dieting, because you can't spot reduce body fat, therefore when you lose fat, you lose it over your entire body, and if you're losing fat it can't accumulate in the desired areas of the body. There's a caloric formula for weight gain and loss; i.e.,  it takes an 3500 extra (above what your body uses in a day for energy) per week to gain weight, so, if your weight is sustained by 2,000 calories a day you would need to consume an extra 500 calories each day (7x500=3,500) to gain 1lb each week, and the opposite is required to lose weight (e.g., 2,000 calories per day to maintain current weight would require you to drop your caloric intake to 1,500 calories per day to lose weight), and if you are losing weight, how is your body going to be able to store fat in new areas of your body? And even if you don't have to lose excess body fat in a typical male area of the body; it still takes several years for your body's cells to convert from creating/maintaining male secondary sex characteristics to female, so, HRT is a process of gradual subtle changes.

What I do is just let my body be my body.  I fluctuate between 165-185 pounds.  While I lose fat on a losing stretch, I'll then regain it later.  Then again I always had female fat distribution so it really does.. not a whole lot lol. However the losing/gaining scheme might help that out   I'm 6'2 so my BMI is in normal limits.  Its been this way the past 25+ years. (44 now)

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

What I do is just let my body be my body.

Same! I figure hormonal changes are so slow and gradual that it's best just to let it happen. If you want to lose weight, then diet/exercise. But let the hormones take care of feminizing the body, it will happen. I think trying to gain weight in certain areas etc is superfluous. With enough time and HRT it will happen on it's own. If I'm unhappy with my body after 10 years of HRT, then I'll consider surgery like a BBL, liposculpting etc. These changes are so slow that I actually think monitoring and measuring the body regularly can be quite depressing.