If your pants are a bit too tight around the waist and your belly enters a room before you do, you are not alone. Excess belly fat is a concern for men and women, as it significantly increases the risk for a variety of health problems. Although there is not one main cause of belly fat, there are a variety of factors that increase its incidence.
Genetics
A small amount of belly fat may be caused by genetics, heredity or hormone changes. After women go through menopause, hormonal changes inside the body commonly contribute to belly fat. As these hormone levels change, they influence the way that fat is stored inside the body. Unfortunately for some women, this fat begins to accumulate in the midsection. As for genetics, some people simply have a genetic tendency to gain weight in the belly. Although these people may find it difficult to lose belly fat, it is possible with consistent weight-loss strategies.
Excess Calories
A problem with excess calories involves two factors: diet and exercise. To maintain weight, the body must burn as many calories as it consumes per day. To lose weight, the body must burn more calories than it consumes per day. When the body consumes more calories than it burns, it stores these extra calories as fat. While some people accumulate fat around the legs or arms, others accumulate fat around the waist. Although the fat distribution may depend on genetics, the fat storage is caused by excess calories.
Improper Digestion
In some cases, a distended belly is mistaken for belly fat. Improper digestion may be caused by illness, disease, genetics or stress. As digestion slows, gas builds up inside the gastrointestinal tract and causes the area to bloat. As a result, the stomach feels distended, puffy, uncomfortable and large. Sometimes, this combination of symptoms imitates belly fat. Before assuming you have belly fat, consider the possibility of excess gas inside the body.
Belly Fat Dangers
Belly fat is not simply a cosmetic problem. As fat accumulates around the belly, it often extends deep inside the body to create a layer of visceral fat around the organs. Abdominal fat greatly increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol problems, sleep apnea and various types of cancer.
Prevention/Solution
The most successful way to eliminate belly fat is to lose weight. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. One pound of body weight equals 3,500 calories. To lose 1 pound per week, your weekly calorie deficit must be at least 3,500 calories. Obtain this deficit by reducing your daily calorie intake and/or increasing your physical activity. Once excess weight is lost, use abdominal exercises to tone the muscles in the belly.
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