8 Reasons You Can't Get Rid of Your Belly Fat

The situation: You're through menopause, but now you've got this extra weight in your midsection.

What that has to do with belly fat: When your estrogen levels drop, the fat cells in your belly rev up their ability to remove fat from your bloodstream and store it before you can work it off, says Jensen.

What to do about it: Get moving. It's easier to gain weight after menopause, but research suggests it's also easier to lose it. Light physical activity like gardening and walking has a more powerful impact on belly fat in post-menopausal women than it does in younger women, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society.