Belly fat is something that affects many of us. Even if we’re not fat elsewhere on our bodies, for some reason it just seems to build up on the stomach. Unfortunately, however, belly fat carries extra risks than fat stored elsewhere on the body.
You shouldn’t aim to lose fat around your belly because you want to look better – let your health be a better motivator. There are a few conditions associated with fat in this specific area, including:
Type 2 diabetes,
Cardiovascular disease,
Colorectal cancer,
And an overall increased risk of premature death.
Research has also shown that fat around the belly is different from other types of fat. It’s more dangerous for your health than the fat concentrated around the legs or the buttocks. Belly fat could promote rises in blood sugar levels, hence the link to type 2 diabetes. This is why it’s still a risk even if you don’t have much fat elsewhere on the body.
How to Measure Your Belly Fat
Although it can’t detect all types of belly fat, your waist measurement is a very good indicator of whether you’re in the healthy range or not. It’s a lot more accurate than only using the scales, or relying on BMI (Body Mass Index) measurements.
To measure your waist, do so around your bare stomach, just above your hips. Make sure that the tape is level horizontally and don’t pull in your stomach when you measure.
The ideal waist measurement for women is under 35 inches, and for men it’s under 40.
Watch Out, Even if You’re Skinny
Don’t think that you’re completely healthy just because you’re skinny. You could have unhealthy belly fat that’s hidden close to your organs. This kind of fat can only be detected by medical scans, but it could still be there and it could still be putting your health at risk!
In fact, studies have shown that if you have a healthy BMI but lots of hidden abdominal fat, you could be more at risk than those with an obese BMI. Many just don’t realize that they need to do something about this kind of fat!
The truth is that belly fat can have negative consequences for you no matter what your overall weight. So keep an eye on your waist size, include physical activity in your daily routine and make sure to stick to a balanced diet. Although you can’t target weight loss specifically to your belly, exercising and eating better will make you lose weight all over the body.
I don't think people realize just how dangerous belly fat can be.
ReplyDeleteI was just about to say the same thing!
DeleteUgh lately when I gain weight that is where it is.
ReplyDeleteI've always worried about my husband because that's his problem area.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that it could attach to the organs, scary.
ReplyDeleteI totally gain weight in my belly when I am stressed out! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate that I carry my weight evenly distributed. However, I really need to lose about 40 pounds. Yuck! So hard getting off of carbs/sweets.
ReplyDeleteInteresting info. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to keep an eye on this and so many people don't realize it.
ReplyDeleteI read about this somewhere awhile back. Scary!
ReplyDeleteYikes. It's scary isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThat's where I carry most of my weight. I need to change that.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that is right where I put on weight. Not good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I'll have to keep an eye on my waist measurement once I have the baby.
ReplyDeleteso many people dont realize the dangers
ReplyDeleteThat is kind of crazy that it attaches to your organs!
ReplyDeleteI carry most of my extra weight in my stomach so I am so concerned about trimming up my waistline.
ReplyDeleteI never had a belly fat issue until I had my son, and since then that's where my weight always shows up. :\
ReplyDeleteI have adrenal fatigue and now I can't exercise, so this is such a problem for me.
ReplyDeleteWow, it is scary to think about how many diseases it is connected too.
ReplyDeleteI have some belly fat but I am trying to lose weight and be healthy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a super reminder!
ReplyDeleteThis is where my weight is :(
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, the idea of hidden belly fat is so scary!
ReplyDeleteYes I know. Too much belly fat is definitely not a good thing. I am trying to work on this right now.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely more important to lose belly fat for health reasons than for beauty reasons!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely more important to lose belly fat for health reasons than for beauty reasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. They say America is gaining weight and it is not healthy!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to be able to work on my tummy (recovering from c-section still).
ReplyDeleteso scary. I never liked my belly fat but I never realized how dangerous it could actually be.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting. And it's true, that even skinny people can have unhealthy fat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info! I really need to lose some weight.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me. I had heard something about this before. Scary for sure.
ReplyDeleteI've heard this before and I guess I should be grateful that it doesn't seem to be a place I tend to build up fat, but my boyfriend's belly...now that's another story! lol
ReplyDeleteMy belly is exactly where I carry excess fat, too. :( I've lost over 20 pounds, but my belly is still too big. I'm trying to lose 10 more pounds, but am having trouble losing it.
ReplyDeleteI worry about my dad. I'm going to forward this to him.
ReplyDeletePut me in the skinny, but probably unhealthy category. My diet needs a makeover.
ReplyDeleteThis is some very eye opening information! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAll my weight gain is in my belly. I so have to get rid of it.
ReplyDeleteVery informative post. Thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't known about hidden abdominal fat before. I learn something new every day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this important info.
ReplyDeleteIt's really scary - I keep watching for that "spare tire" on my husband and I and whenever I see that we have a little extra weight there we start re-evaluating our eating and exercise habits.
ReplyDeleteI never had a problem with this until I got pregnant. It's so hard to get rid of!
ReplyDeleteBelly fat is my main problem area.
ReplyDeleteI really need to start making some lifestyle changes to remedy this problem.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you wrote this blog. Not many people understand the effect excess fat has on our bodies. I especially appreciated your section on skinny people not being exempt from having abdominal fat. The truth is we are all subject to having fat stored in our bodies regardless of body type. One reason that I've learned for this is because producing fat cells is our bodies' defense mechanism against the toxins we are exposed both in air we breathe and in the foods we eat. In my experience, I have used a nutritional cleansing system to help release toxins in my body which would simultaneously release the excess fat cells my body created to protect itself from the possible effect of the toxins. The result after 30-days was me being 19 lbs lighter and 15 total inches smaller than when I started. With those results, I want to keep cleansing!
ReplyDeleteSeems for me, it wants to go their and the hips first. Reading above post, that too is pretty interesting. Maybe I need to get a cleansing system
ReplyDelete