According to the Mayo Clinic website, women with waist measurements above 35 inches and men with waist measurements above 40 inches are at increased risk of certain diseases due to high amounts of fat in the abdominal area. Diseases associated with belly fat include heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and gallbladder disorders. If you know the causes of belly fat, you can take preventive measures to keep your weight under control.
Age
Your age can be a cause of whether or not extra fat gathers around your midsection. When you get older, your metabolism slows down and weight gain is common. Instead of the weight shifting into your legs, arms and hips, you'll see more of a weight gain in your abdomen as you enter middle-age. According to MayoClinic.com, women are more likely to increase fat accumulation in their bellies as they get older.
Heredity
Heredity can also determine whether or not you carry your extra weight in the abdominal area. If your parents or grandparents were apple-shaped individuals, you are more prone to have the same body shape. However, making lifestyle changes, such as better eating habits and a regular exercise routine, can fight this predisposition.
Diet and Exercise
If you are eating a diet high in fat and calories, you'll likely experience an increase in belly fat. If you want to get rid of belly fat, avoid fatty foods with low nutritional value such as fast food, fried meals, fatty cuts of meat, sweets and full-fat dairy products. If you drink too much alcohol, besides wine, it can also cause you to gain belly fat. Sedentary lifestyles with little to no aerobic activity can also make you heavy around the middle.
Neuropeptide Y
Once you have belly fat, it may cause increased hunger and more belly fat. According to a 2008 study conducted by Dr. Kaiping Yang, a professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Physiology and Pharmacology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario, a hormone found in belly fat may act as an appetite stimulant. Yang and associates found that abdominal fat tissue can produce a hormone that stimulates fat cell production. Researchers concluded that the more weight you gain, the more prominent the hormone called Neuropeptide Y is in your body.
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