Knowing the causes of belly fat can help us fight the fat accumulated around the abdominal area. Apart from the obvious reasons like high calorie intake or having more calories than we burn, there are some hidden causes of belly fat. Hormonal imbalance is one such cause. A hormone named Cortisol is the main culprit. It causes cravings for fat when the mind is under stress. Chronic stress signals our body to continue producing cortisol, making us gorge on ice cream and fries.

Sometimes dieters end up consuming less than the required calories. This can also lead to fat as the body sends a signal to brain about the deficiency of nutrients and you are unable to resist the temptation to eat more.The preservatives and additives found commonly in food today are also to blame. These foods lack the essential nutrients that help burn belly fat. These foods also cause you to consume extra water which also leads to weight gain.