Why Reduce Fat Around Your Waist, or Stomach, or Abdominal Area
Some call it their waist, others say stomach, or a professional may use abdominal area, all in reference to the part of the body between the chest and the hips that contain your pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs. Matters not the term used, but matters if this is your primary location for fat storage.
Location, location, location. Extra fat in the abdomen is linked to:
- diabetes
- dementia
- sleep apnea
- early heart disease
- high blood pressure
- certain types of cancer
A recent study showed that eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, reduced-fat dairy products, and whole grains is associated with smaller gains both in Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference.
The easiest way to check your body fat distribution is to measure around your waistline and compare this measurement to your hips or buttocks to see if your abdomen is larger. In addition, women’s waist of 35 inches plus and a man’s waist of 40 inches plus need to go to work on reducing this measurement.
Excess abdominal fat is an important, independent risk factor for disease. If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop obesity related health problems, such as:
Men usually build up fat around their bellies, giving them more of an “apple” shape. Of course, some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, especially after menopause.
Whether your weight is “healthy” depends on how much of your weight is fat, where in your body the fat is located, and whether you have weight-related medical problems or a family history of such problems.
Step away from the meat, potatoes and alcohol. Step toward fruits and vegetables, at least until you get your waist, or stomach, or abdominal area under your control.
Also, vigorous exercise helps reduce your abdominal fat.
- Discover What a Healthy Diet Means
- Diet and Weight Loss Resolution All Year
- Four Key Components to Physical Health and Fitness
- Take Off Pounds with Goals, Changes and Food Labels
- The Cost of Living the Good Life is a Lifetime of Fitness
