But there is one thing you can do to see a reduction in fat around the middle, and it doesn’t involve a new diet or extreme exercise.
Belly fat is in fact often linked to an overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol.
Stress causes the adrenal glands to produce cortisol in the body, and high levels of the hormone are known to increase stomach fat.
This is because the hormone leads to a huge in appetite that causes fat storage to build in the abdominals.
This is true even if total calories ingested for the day are within a healthy range, as it is linked to the food chosen rather than the amount consumed.
Studies have shown it is worse for women, as they naturally produce more cortisol than men thanks to their larger waistlines.
And it isn’t just exposure to stress that will effect your waistline – how you cope with that stress will also change if you gain weight.
Those who react helplessly to uncontrollable stress fare worse, a 1994 study found. It said: “Differences in coping and appraisal may suggest that a particular psychological pattern might influence the reactivity of the adrenal-cortical system to stress, and subsequent fat distribution.”
Avoiding stress and coping with it well are ways to avoid weight gain around the midsection, and many people think avoiding carbs will also help – but an expert has revealed this is not the case.
In fact, eating the right carbohydrates could help you lose weight.
MealKitt, who specialise in portion control, explained to Express.co.uk that those trying to lose weight are better off keeping carbs as part of their diet.
All dieters should do is make sure they are eating the right type.
They explained: “Most of us think that in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy diet we should be cutting out carbs, or at least minimising the amount we consume.
“However this isn’t always the case; carbohydrates come in many forms and some can be essential for our wellbeing.
“Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy as they are broken down into glucose before being absorbed into the blood stream.
“Moreover carbohydrates that are high in fibre will bulk up your meals and help you feel full.”