Causes of Belly Fat After Hysterectomy: Ways to Reduce It – KompleteCare Blog (2023)

Getting rid of belly fat after a hysterectomy can be a daunting task. So if you've recently had a hysterectomy and you're concerned about fat around your abdomen, you're not alone.

Basic points:

• Medically, there is a direct link between hysterectomy and abdominal fat.
• Common causes of abdominal fat after surgery include internal swelling of the abdomen and organs around the pelvis, damaged abdominal muscles and ligaments, and changes in reproductive hormones.
• There are fat burning tricks to reduce belly fat after a hysterectomy such as strength training, ab exercises, dieting and intermittent fasting.

Hysterectomy is a common surgery performed on women these days.

One of the many reasons for this procedure is that it can be used as a last resort for conditions like endometriosis or uterine fibroids, or as a permanent method of birth control for women.

It is not uncommon for women to gain a few pounds and gain abdominal fat after a hysterectomy.medical researchshows that there is a direct relationship between hysterectomy and weight gain.

The type and purpose of the hysterectomy performed can affect total body weight and significant fat accumulation.

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the uterus (womb) and possibly the cervix, as well as surrounding organs and tissues, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The procedure is usually done to treat certain conditions that affect the uterus or other surrounding organs, such as the cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

However, the focus of hysterectomy surgery is on the uterus (womb). After a hysterectomy, a woman cannot become pregnant and cannot see her period.

Types of Hysterectomy

1. Histerectomia total:With the exception of the ovaries, the entire uterus and cervix are removed. After removal of the cervix, a regular gynecological examination is recommended.
2. Partially/SuprazervikalHisterectomia abdominal:This involves removing the upper part of the uterus and leaving the cervix intact. The cervix (cervix) is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina.
3. Radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy:It is mainly used to treat cancer, such as cancer of the uterus, ovaries, or cervix; It involves surgical removal of the uterus, ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes, some lymph nodes, upper part of the vagina, and some surrounding tissue.
4. Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy:This involves removing the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), and ovaries (oophorectomy). This procedure causes menopausal symptoms in women under menopausal age due to the removal of the ovaries.

Reasons for a hysterectomy

As mentioned earlier, women undergo hysterectomy for various reasons such as:

• Uterine prolapse.
• cancer prevention.
• Excessive abdominal or vaginal bleeding that has not been effectively treated.
• Intense menstrual and pelvic pain.
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• PainfulUterine myoma.
• Pelvic and uterine pain.
• Cancer of the cervix, uterus or ovaries.
• Endometriosis.

What are the causes of belly fat after hysterectomy?

You may experience abdominal fat or weight gain after a hysterectomy, not necessarily due to significant changes in lifestyle, habits, physical activity and diet.

1. Internal edema

The abdomen swells after a hysterectomy and can easily be mistaken for abdominal fat. Also, other organs in the abdomen or pelvis tend to swell after this procedure, giving the stomach a loose appearance. It can take several months for the swelling of the pelvis and lower abdominal structures to subside after a hysterectomy.

2. Damaged ligaments and abdominal muscles

An abdominal hysterectomy can be a catalyst for anatomical and muscular changes in the body, particularly in the lower abdomen.

Certain ligaments and muscles hold the uterus in place, keep pressure on the inner abdominal area, and stabilize the midsection. Incisions made during a hysterectomy can damage these muscles, weakening them or causing them to stop working.

This will make the stomach look bloated or flabby, and it will also make the belly look shorter and fatter. Some people may experience love handles around the abdomen and a loose stomach.

3. Changes/decrease in reproductive hormones

One of the main causes of abdominal fat after a hysterectomy is reproductive hormonal changes. When the uterus is removed, there are changes in hormone production.

If you had your ovaries removed during surgery, there will also be changes in hormone production, leading to what is known as 'surgical menopause'. During menopause, small amounts of estrogen are released, so estrogen production decreases.

The ovaries secrete estrogen hormones and when they are removed there is an absence or reduction in estrogen production which would lead to menopausal symptoms.

Factors Affecting Weight Gain After Hysterectomy

Basically, there is a direct correlation between hysterectomy and increased weight gain. However, fat accumulation and weight gain are completely individual and therefore not all women may be affected. Some factors influence weight gain after a hysterectomy, including:

1. The nature of the hysterectomy procedure

Some types of hysterectomy have a greater impact on weight gain than others. For example, a hysterectomy, where the ovaries are removed, causes estrogen levels to drop, leading to weight gain. The sudden change in hormones that leads to surgical menopause increases total body fat and abdominal fat.

2. Your weight before the operation

If you were overweight before a hysterectomy or have repeatedly gained and lost weight, you are at high risk of gaining even more weight after a hysterectomy.

The more weight you are before the procedure, the more likely you are to gain weight after the procedure.

Additionally, obese women are at risk of developing medical conditions that require a hysterectomy.

3. How fast do you recover

The recovery time after a hysterectomy is long. It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to recover and resume normal physical activities.

However, each person's recovery rate is different. Women who have an abdominal hysterectomy take longer to heal and may gain more weight afterwards.

To fully recover, it is necessary to be physically inactive to help the body heal. This physical inactivity requires staying in one place for a long time and leads to weight gain.

4. physical inactivity

After a hysterectomy, you may not be able to exercise right away due to the discomfort and pain associated with the procedure.

The longer it takes to heal, the more physical inactivity will affect your weight. Remaining physically inactive during the post-procedure healing period can increase the risk of fat accumulation and ultimately weight gain.

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2 main ways to reduce belly fat after hysterectomy

In general, there are two ways to reduce belly fat after a hysterectomy: abdominal exercises and diet.

1. a practice

Regular exercise for 150 minutes a week, or 75 minutes of aerobic exercise, is essential to your post-hysterectomy weight loss journey.

Make sure of this before doing any exercise.Speak with a licensed physicianor your surgeon and get permission to do so. Once you get the go-ahead, you can start taking short walks or other small, gentle movements.

Once you have fully recovered and regained your strength, you can develop an exercise plan focused on burning fat and building muscle that includes:

• modified sit-ups
• diaphragmatic breathing
• knee roll
• Modified pelvic tilt, etc.

These exercises tighten and flatten the appearance of the abdomen and protect the pelvic floor. It's important to incorporate activities that you really enjoy into your daily routine and workout. It may well set the pace for sustained, long-term practice.

2. Diet and Nutrition

One of the best ways to reduce waist and stomach fat is through diet. Diet cannot reverse or change the anatomical changes of a hysterectomy, but it has a positive effect on hormones and significantly reduces abdominal fat.

When planning your diet, subtract calories and consider ingredients like:

• Vegetables

The antioxidant components of vegetables help prevent inflammation in the body. They are also a good source of gut-friendly fiber. Most vegetables are low in fat and calories, creating a calorie deficit that is important for weight loss. This makes them an ideal choice for reducing belly fat and losing weight.

• fruit

Fruits are high in water and fiber, which adds volume to your meals and prevents you from overeating and consuming fewer calories. Fruits are very low in calories and rich in nutrients, so they naturally help prevent weight gain and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. Fruits are a natural way to lose weight and can be eaten raw or in smoothies.

• whole grain

Whole grains are rich in fiber and fiber slows digestion in the body. Whole grains encourage calorie loss by reducing the number of calories stored during digestion. As a result, you'll feel fuller for longer and avoid overeating.

Choosing whole grains over refined grains reduces belly fat and also reduces the risk of obesity. Whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, corn, popcorn, whole oats, whole grain rye, buckwheat and wild rye will help you lose weight and abdominal fat after a hysterectomy.

• beans

Beans are rich in protein and promote weight loss by burning calories and fat. Beans are low in fat and low on the glycemic index, and are an excellent source of fiber. Using beans as your main source of protein prevents the accumulation of belly fat.

Diploma

Belly fat is a common problem after a hysterectomy. Factors responsible for abdominal fat after a hysterectomy include hormonal changes, damaged or weakened muscles and ligaments, and abdominal swelling.

Abdominal fat growth after a hysterectomy occurs without major lifestyle changes. However, after a hysterectomy, you can change your lifestyle and diet to induce effective weight loss and burn the abdominal fat associated with the procedure.

Also do light exercise.see a specialist doctorfor a supervised guide on how to lose belly fat without stopping the healing process.

bibliographic references

Moorman, Patricia & Schildkraut, Joellen & Iversen, Edwin & Myers, Evan & Gradison, Margaret & Warren, Nicolette & Wang, Frances. (2009). Prospective study of weight gain after premenopausal hysterectomy.Women's Health Magazine(2002). 18. 699-708. 10.1089/jwh.2008.1019.

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