The average person tends to carry excessive fat in one of two general areas of their body. Some retain fat in their hip and thigh area and are referred to as pear-shaped. Others carry their fat around the waist and are referred to as apple-shaped. There are a number of reasons for being overweight or obese, but one thing is certain; people who carry excess fat around their waist are at a higher risk for life-threatening diseases.
Abdominal Fat
The exact reason why some people develop abdominal fat, while others don't, is unclear. However, there are some consistencies. Men and post menopausal women tend to accumulate fat around the waist, although this concentration of fat is not limited to these groups. Men and women of all ages may develop fat around the abdominal area and will exhibit the same cardiovascular health risks.
Genetics
The reasons for excess body fat can be attributed to genetics and lifestyle. Throughout human evolution, there have been times when the supply of food was limited, as a result, the human body developed genes for the purpose of storing fat. The problem is, in modern Western society, food is no longer scarce, but evolution has not kept up with the advancement of food producing. Therefore, the genes that helped humans to survive centuries ago are assisting in this modern physical decline.
Lifestyle
It's no secret that one reason for excessive weight gain is consuming more calories then what are burned off through physical activity. Other factors do influence weight gain, but the bottom line is that people in North America eat too much and don't exercise enough. What you eat may, also, be contributing to your weight gain. For instance, some fats are healthy and some fats are not. Saturated fats and trans fats in red meat and pastries are bad for your health. However, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats found in fish and nuts are good for you. Limiting your calorie consumption and fat intake will assist in your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Another component of weight gain is alcohol use. The reason for this is that alcohol stimulates appetite, is treated like fat by the body and is very high in energy, while being devoid of nutrients.
Other Factors
A Mayo Clinic study found that when people accumulate fat in the abdominal area, the existing fat cells increased in size, whereas the fat cells of people who carried excess weight in their hips and thighs increased in number. There are many health risks associated with excessive abdominal fat. They include: heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and sleep apnea. If you want to control the amount of belly fat you develop you must eat right, exercise daily and limit your alcohol consumption.
References
- "Nutrition Now"; Judith Brown; 2002
- "Understanding Nutrition"; Eleanor Noss Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes; 2002
- "Mayo Clinic: Fitness for Everybody"; Diane Dahm and Jay Smith; 2005
- Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic Finds Upper, Lower Body Gain Weight Differently
- Mayo Clinic: Belly Fat in Men. Why Weight Loss Matters
Member Comments