Storing fat in certain locations is frustrating and can lead to self-consciousness. Spot reduction is the idea that you can melt away fat in one location of your body by doing a particular exercise over and over. Although this might help tone the muscles underneath, it will not do much for the actual fat. This is dedicated to aerobic activity, which burns calories efficiently. Multiple locations on the body tend to store fat more readily than others.
Stomach
Perhaps the most popular region victimized by excess fat is the abdomen. According to MayoClinic.com, men have a higher tendency to store fat in this area than women. The problem with this fat is that it packs around the vital organs inside the body. This alone is a risk factor for such conditions as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and high triglycerides. Deep abdominal fat of this nature is called visceral fat.
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Hips, Butt and Thighs
The hips, butt and thighs tend to be storage centers for fat in women more than men. Having this excess fat is not as detrimental to health as stomach fat because it is subcutaneous. Subcutaneous fat lies directly under the skin.
Carrying extra lower-body weight is known as having a pear-shaped body. When weight is stored in the upper body, it is called an apple shape. Fat specifically found on the sides of the hips near the upper thighs is often referred to by the slang term saddle bags.
Calves
The calves consist of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, and they reside right below the knees on the back of the legs. When they are not toned, fat has a tendency to build up here. This is often referenced to as having cankles, which means fat by the calves and ankles.
Underarms
The underarms boast a three-part muscle called the triceps. When they are well-developed, they give off a horseshoe shape. When they are unconditioned, fat often builds up here. This fat also tends to build up in the armpit area.
Back
The back is a common site for fat to build up in both genders. This fat takes place in the upper and lower areas equally. In women, upper back fat is often referred to as bra overhang.
Sides
The sides of the abdomen contain diagonal-shaped muscles called the obliques. These function to rotate and twist the torso. Fat often builds up over these muscles, and it is referred to as love handles.
Chest
Men and women both have muscles in their chests called the pectorals. When men do not exercise and keep these muscles toned, they have a tendency to gain weight in the chest area. This leads to flabbiness that is referred to as man boobs, moobs or man breasts.