The Liver Body Type–Explanation and Symptoms

Individuals with a liver body type are at increased risk of belly fat, metabolic issues, and hormonal imbalances, all of which can lead to poor health and well-being.

However, various health issues associated with this hormonal body type can be managed by making the right dietary and lifestyle changes.

Here’s how to support a liver body type to improve your health, shed excess weight, and regain your energy and confidence.

The five body types explained

There are five primary hormonal body types, including liver, adrenal, thyroid, ovary, and pancreas body types, each linked to different patterns of fat storage and health challenges.

Here’s an overview of all five body types and what they can mean for your health.

1. Liver body type

The liver body type is most commonly seen in men and is often characterized by a protruding belly. This abdominal fat is typically linked to underlying liver issues such as cirrhosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Individuals with this body type may also often have lower levels of human growth hormone (HGH), a key metabolic hormone for fat metabolism and energy regulation.

When HGH is suppressed, which is often related to a high-carb diet, chronic stress, and elevated estrogen levels, it can become more difficult to burn fat, particularly around the midsection.

Supporting liver function through dietary changes, quality sleep, and reduced alcohol intake may help restore hormonal balance and promote overall health in those with a liver body type.

2. Adrenal body type

The adrenal body type is often characterized by a soft, sagging belly, which is commonly linked to chronic stress rather than poor diet.

This body type is influenced by adrenal hormone imbalances, especially cortisol, which is the body’s primary stress hormone.

When cortisol levels remain elevated due to chronic stress, it stimulates abdominal fat accumulation, impacts overall energy levels, and can be detrimental to sleep quality.

Common symptoms associated with an adrenal body type include:

Trouble sleeping
Poor stress resilience
Irritability
Memory problems
Brain fog
Salt or sugar cravings

For individuals with an adrenal body type, reducing stress and getting quality sleep are critical to supporting balanced cortisol levels.

3. Thyroid body type

The thyroid body type is often marked by overall weight gain rather than fat accumulation in a specific area.

Other common signs of this hormonal body type include thinning hair, fatigue, cold extremities, eye discomfort, ridged nails, and a swollen or coated tongue.

“Conventional thyroid medications often offer little to no benefit for weight loss in those with a thyroid body type,” explains Dr. Berg. “This may indicate that the thyroid imbalance is a secondary issue, typically linked to elevated estrogen levels or impaired liver function.”

4. Ovary body type

The ovary body type is typically seen in women and is characterized by fat accumulation in the hips, thighs, and lower abdomen, all of which are areas influenced by estrogen dominance.

As estrogen levels shift, especially during menopause, women with this body type can experience symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, and may gain weight in a similar pattern to the adrenal body type.

To support hormone balance, it’s crucial to prioritize a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables and choose organic and pasture-raised foods to reduce dietary exposure to synthetic hormones.

5. Pancreas body type

The pancreas body type is typically driven by insulin imbalances and can closely resemble other types, especially the adrenal or thyroid body types. This can make it difficult to identify this hormonal type based on body composition alone.

This particular body type has been linked to insulin resistance and is often accompanied by cravings for sugar and a tendency to eat more frequently. These factors, rather than body shape alone, are key indicators of the pancreas’s body type.

Watch the video below to learn more about the liver body type.

The liver body type explained

The liver is essential for regulating metabolism, balancing hormones, and filtering toxins from the body. When the liver becomes sluggish or damaged, often due to poor diet, alcohol use, or toxin exposure, it can lead to a distinct pattern of weight gain known as the liver body type.

This hormonal body type is most commonly seen in men and is marked by fat accumulation around the abdomen.

Liver dysfunction can also interfere with the conversion of thyroid hormone, potentially leading to secondary thyroid imbalances and further weight gain.

In many cases, liver body type-related weight gain is also driven by fluid retention rather than just fat accumulation, which is why exercise alone may have a limited impact.

Foods high in trans fats, fried foods, processed foods, and sugary meals place additional stress on the liver and can worsen symptoms.

Although the liver can regenerate fully, addressing and reversing this hormonal body type requires a consistent, well-formulated, liver-supportive diet and lifestyle.

Liver body type symptoms

The liver body type is often recognized by a firm, protruding abdomen, commonly caused by ascites, which is a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity due to liver dysfunction.

Ascites is frequently mistaken for belly fat but is actually fluid leakage linked to liver inflammation or liver cell damage.

Other common symptoms associated with a liver body type include:

Skin problems
Liver spots
Chronic halitosis
Oral thrush
Digestive issues
Stiffness in the lower back
Sugar craving
Hair loss
Sluggish gallbladder function
Blood sugar imbalances

In addition, people with this body type often feel irritable in the morning and may experience stiffness in the lower back or right shoulder pain due to nerve compression from an enlarged liver.

Because the liver produces bile, a vital compound for digesting fats and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, poor liver function can contribute to nutrient deficiencies and metabolic imbalances.

The liver body type diet

Exercise alone typically doesn’t help improve a liver body type, and making beneficial dietary changes is critical to support liver cleansing and optimal health.

One of the best dietary strategies for this body type is a nutritious low-carb diet such as Healthy Keto®, which avoids sugar, limits carbohydrates, and emphasizes nutrient-dense foods.

A low-carb diet is critical to address liver problems, as excess sugars and carbohydrates are the main drivers of liver fat accumulation and fatty liver disease.

This has been confirmed by research published in Hepatology Communications, summarizing “Excessive dietary sugar intake holds a major role in the onset and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.”¹

The authors further highlight that avoiding sugar, especially fructose, and excessive amounts of carbohydrates plays a crucial role in supporting healthy liver cells and restoring liver function.

Healthy Keto prioritizes nutrient-rich, high-quality foods, including non-genetically modified (GMO) organic vegetables, grass-fed beef, full-fat organic dairy and eggs, and wild-caught fish.

This eating plan also emphasizes cruciferous vegetables to support detoxification and liver health, and focuses on healthy fats and high-quality proteins that are easier to digest.

The ketogenic diet promotes fat-burning by shifting the body into ketosis, a metabolic state that helps reduce liver fat accumulation and supports weight loss, which is essential for improving liver function in those with a liver body type.

How to fix a liver body type and lose weight

Combining Healthy Keto with intermittent fasting is a powerful tool to help restore liver function, reduce abdominal fluid retention, and support sustainable weight loss.

Intermittent fasting is a mealtime schedule that alternates between periods of fasting and eating. This enhances liver health by giving the liver extended periods of rest from digestion, allowing it to focus on detoxification, repair, and fat metabolism.

During extended fasting periods, the liver shifts into a fat-burning mode by mobilizing stored fat for energy. This metabolic switch reduces overall fat accumulation and supports the breakdown of excess lipids within liver cells, supporting liver health and function.

Fasting also stimulates autophagy, which is a cellular cleanup process that removes damaged components from liver cells, thereby enhancing liver function and improving metabolic efficiency.

A study published in Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity highlights the therapeutic potential of intermittent fasting for liver health.²

The researchers suggest that fasting not only improves metabolic markers but also reduces liver fat and inflammation, which are key drivers of liver-related disorders.

As a result, intermittent fasting may be a valuable strategy for addressing liver problems and managing the symptoms associated with a liver body type.

Key takeaways

The liver body type is typically associated with fat or fluid accumulation in the midsection and is often linked to liver dysfunction caused by poor diet, toxin exposure, or insulin resistance.

One of the best ways to address the liver body type is to combine a nutrient-dense low-carb diet like Healthy Keto with intermittent fasting.

This strategy supports liver regeneration, reduces fat accumulation, and helps rebalance key metabolic hormones critical for sustained weight loss and improved overall health.

FAQ

1. What is a liver body type?

A liver body type is characterized by fat or fluid accumulation in the midsection, often due to poor liver function caused by a high-sugar diet, alcohol, or toxin exposure. It commonly involves hormonal imbalances and fluid retention, making weight loss more difficult.

2. What should people with a liver body type eat?

Those with a liver body type should follow a low-carb, nutrient-dense diet like Healthy Keto®, which emphasizes whole foods, healthy fats, cruciferous vegetables, and quality protein.
In addition, avoiding sugar, refined carbs, alcohol, and heavily processed or fried foods is essential to reduce liver stress.

3. What are the five body types?

The five hormonal body types include liver, thyroid, pancreas, ovary, and adrenal body types.

4. How can I tell if I have a liver body type?

Individuals with liver body types often carry excess weight in the midsection, especially a firm pot belly, and experience symptoms such as right shoulder pain, skin issues, digestive discomfort, or cravings for fatty and sugary foods. These signs often indicate underlying liver dysfunction or fat accumulation in the liver.

5. What foods should I avoid if I have a fatty liver?

If you have a fatty liver, avoid foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed and fatty foods, and trans fats. It’s also important to limit alcohol and sugary beverages as they can worsen liver inflammation and fat accumulation.

6. What causes the liver body type?

The liver body type is primarily caused by liver dysfunction, often due to a high-sugar, high-carb diet, excessive alcohol intake, or toxin exposure. These factors can lead to fat buildup and can contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects metabolic and hormonal balance.

7. How can I fix my liver body type?

You can help fix a liver body type by following a low-carb, nutrient-dense diet such as Healthy Keto and incorporating intermittent fasting to reduce liver fat, support detoxification, and restore hormone balance.

8. Which exercise is best for the liver body type?

For the liver body type, low-impact activities such as walking and gentle strength training are best. However, while exercise offers general health benefits, dietary and lifestyle changes have a more significant impact on improving liver function and reducing abdominal fluid retention.