Although obesity is commonly recognized as a major health issue, most people are unaware a beer belly could be a sign of much bigger problems. Doctors are warning more patients about the dangers of belly fat -- which include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Belly Fat Can Affect Thin People
Belly fat is concentrated on your abdominal walls which surrounds your interior organs. It is associated with heavy eating and drinking as well as with old age. According to the 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. However, belly fat is not just a problem for overweight people, belly fat also affects thin people. People who are naturally thin gain weight and develop flab in the same areas as other people. Many thin people also have love handles and Buddha bellies, but because of their inherently small frames it tends to be less noticeable.
Increased Risks
Having a large amount of belly fat increases your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, some types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea, according to the Mayo Clinic. The problem with belly fat is that people who suffer from it are more likely to have large amounts of deep-hidden fat around critical interior organs like the liver. People with excess belly fat also increase their risk of contracting colon cancer, for example, because the accumulated fat affects hormone levels crucial in cell growth and in cancer cell growth.
Check Your Waist
Your waist size is a good indicator of whether you have too much belly fat. The people at the greatest risk of developing health issues from too much belly fat are women whose waists are wider than 35 inches and men whose waists are wider than 40 inches. The only way to find out exactly how much deep-hidden belly fat you have is to undergo a CAT scan or an MRI. In general, however, men typically stand at a greater risk of developing belly fat than women.
Getting Rid of Belly Fat
The best way to combat belly fat is by maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise. Foods that are high in calories increase your belly fat and should be eliminated from your diet and replaced by healthier fare. But if you can't give up cheeseburgers altogether, try decreasing your portion size by splitting the burger with a friend or by saving half for your next meal. In addition to monitoring your diet, increase your physical activities to get rid of your belly fat. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, a healthy adult requires 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity.
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