Belly fat doesn't just make trouble for your figure -- too much of it can be dangerous to your health. Body fat is the repository for the extra calories you consume that your body doesn't need right away. However, when it comes to belly fat and why it seems to gravitate directly to your waistline, the explanation is a bit more complicated.
About Belly Fat
Belly fat is actually made up of two types of fat, says Harvard Medical School. There's subcutaneous fat, the fat that lies right under the skin of your tummy -- the soft, malleable fat you can poke with your finger. Then there's visceral or intra-abdominal fat, which lies deep in your belly, underneath your abdominal wall. Visceral fat also collects in a strip of tissue under your abdominal muscles called the omentum. As more belly fat fills the omentum, it becomes firm and thick. Most people have around 90 percent subcutaneous fat and 10 percent visceral fat.
Determining Factors
Your risk of developing excess fat -- and a thick waistline -- depends on your age, genes and gender. Your metabolism slows down with age, decreasing the amount of lean muscle and increasing your amount of body fat. According to the Weight Control Information Network, research shows that your family history plays a role in weight gain and obesity, although it's difficult to determine the extent to which a shared diet and lifestyle contribute. Women who've had children are predisposed to developing more visceral fat compared with women who haven't. Also, if you were born with a low birth weight, you're more likely to have belly fat when you're older.
Women and Belly Fat
For post-menopausal women, belly fat becomes more problematic. While a woman of child-bearing age frets about the size of her hips, thighs and arm, hormonal changes influence how fat is processed and stored -- as well as where. According to MayoClinic.Com, genes may also make certain women more likely to gain weight in their midsection during this stage of life. However, although a flagging metabolism and sedentary lifestyle directly cause weight gain, these have nothing to do with the amount of visceral fat your body accumulates. Harvard Medical School cites a four-year study conducted by Louisiana State University researchers that examined middle-aged females in good health. All gained some amount of subcutaneous belly fat during the study, but only menopausal women accumulated visceral belly fat.
Health Complications
Losing excess belly fat makes you feel more attractive, but more important than dropping a size or two is the health benefits it yields. Visceral fat is described by Harvard Medical School as "biologically active," functioning almost in the capacity of a gland. Visceral fat releases a molecule called retinol-binding protein 4, which increases insulin resistance -- as well as your risk for certain health complications. Excess belly fat puts you at risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease, dementia, asthma and breast and colorectal cancer. Women with a waist measurement of 35 inches or more and men with a measurement of 40 inches or more are more likely to experience health complications caused by carrying around too much body fat.
Trimming Down
If you want to lose belly fat, get at least 30 minutes of exercise as many days of the week as you can. According to Harvard Medical School, brisk aerobic activity coupled with strength training is the best way to burn both subcutaneous and visceral fat. Eat a balanced diet, avoiding foods high in trans fats and fructose, which tend to encourage a thickening waistline. Get plenty of sleep, avoid smoking, and if you're a middle-aged woman, get a handle on your mood. According to Harvard Medical School, studies show that anger, depression and stress contributes to the accumulation of visceral belly fat.
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