Stubborn Belly Fat? Your Kidneys Might Be the Problem

Stubborn belly fat won't budge despite diet and exercise? Your kidneys may be the hidden culprit.

Your kidneys clear over 50% of circulating insulin. When visceral fat compresses them, insulin stays elevated and your body gets locked in fat storage mode. This episode breaks down the kidney-belly fat connection most doctors miss — and exactly how to break the cycle.

In this episode:

• The role of perirenal fat in kidney compression

• Why your kidneys control insulin clearance (and fat burning)

• How the RAAS system triggers fluid retention and bloating

• The vicious cycle keeping you stuck in fat storage mode

• The SELF Principle approach: Sleep, Exercise, Love, Food

• A 14-day sodium reset to release kidney bloat

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References:1. Hall JE, et al. Obesity-induced hypertension: role of sympathetic nervous system, leptin, and melanocortins. Circ Res. 2021.2. Hall JE, et al. Obesity, kidney dysfunction and hypertension: mechanistic links. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2019.3. Gholami P, et al. Insulin resistance and insulin handling in chronic kidney disease. Front Endocrinol. 2024.4. Covassin N, et al. Effects of experimental sleep restriction on visceral obesity. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022.5. Carlström M, et al. Nitric oxide signalling in kidney regulation and cardiometabolic health. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2021.

This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes.

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Dr. Sean HashmiBoard-Certified Nephrologist and Obesity Medicine Specialistselfprinciple.org