Even the slightest weight gain will prominently and primarily be noticed around your waist line or the belly area. So, if you are finding ways to lose belly fat, then there are factors beyond your food habits that you need to check. Some of them are as follows:

Reduce inactivity: The importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle needs no explanation as it is widely known and a fact. Although certain abdominal exercises and crunches are widely considered as easy ways to lose belly fat, resistance training and aerobic exercises like walking, running, swimming, etc., have a holistic effect on the overall well-being along with aiding to lose belly fat.

Track your food intake and exercise: Consuming fewer calories than your body needs for weight maintenance is key. Keeping a food diary or using an online food tracker or app can help you monitor your calorie intake. This strategy has been shown to be beneficial for weight loss. In addition, food-tracking tools help you see your intake of protein, carbs, fiber, and micronutrients. Many also allow you to record your exercise and physical activity.

Take care of yourself during menopause: Accumulation of belly fat is extremely common during menopause due to the hormonal changes in the body. This weight gain is partly due to genetics but can be controlled by inculcating healthy habits with periodic medical checks and exercises.

Maintain good gut health: An imbalance in gut bacteria increases your chances of weight gain along with putting on abdominal fat. A rise in these bad bacteria inside the gut increases the number of calories that are absorbed from food. Hence, eat healthy and clean food always.

Reduce stress: Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps the body to control a stress response. With more stress, more cortisol is produced which increases the appetite leading to overeating and thereby promotes fat storage especially around the abdominal region. Stress relieving activities along with yoga or meditation can be an effective way to lose belly fat.

Get sufficient sleep: An average human being requires 7 to 8 hours of sleep to keep all his systems in good health. Along with memory-related issues, sleep deprivation is also indirectly linked to the production of cortisol or the stress hormone which causes weight gain. According to studies, people suffering from sleep apnea had more abdominal fat than those without the disorder.