“The Facts About Belly Fat”

 

BELLY FAT: MORE THAN SKIN DEEP - One fact about stomach fat you should know is this: It's not just that squishy layer right under your skin -- the kind you grab to see if you can "pinch an inch." Visceral fat is the name for the kind that lies deep in your torso. It packs around your intestines, liver, and stomach. It can also line your arteries. And it can be risky for your health. But you don't need special diets or exercises to lose it -- just healthy habits.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS? It's not just about the number on the scale. Researchers think the amount of deep fat around your middle is a better gauge of whether you're at risk of serious health problems than either your weight or your BMI (body mass index). Not only can belly fat make your jeans too tight, too much of it could mean you're more likely to get:

• Diabetes
• Fatty liver disease
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Breast cancer
• Pancreatitis

WHAT WAIST MEASUREMENTS MEAN: You can't tell how much visceral fat you have just by measuring your waist. That's because the fat near your skin's surface (called subcutaneous fat) is also part of your girth. But your measuring tape can give you a hint if you might end up with belly fat-related health issues. For women, waist measurements over 35 inches can raise a red flag. For men, it's 40 inches.

IT’S THE FIRST FAT TO GO: Here’s a happy fact: Visceral fat is the first kind you lose. And to do that, you need to get moving. Your workout doesn’t have to be complicated. You might walk briskly for an hour a day. On a treadmill, you can set the incline higher for a metabolism boost. If you sit a lot, find ways to move. Set a timer on your phone to remind you to get up every half-hour or so. Or try a standing desk and do squats as you work.

FIDGETING COUNTS: Do you talk with your hands? Tap your feet to tunes? Do people think you’re a bit hyper? All good. Fidgeting might not be "exercise," and it won't build muscle or stamina. But it counts as activity, and it burns calories. So, the next time someone says you fidget too much, you can say you’re burning belly fat.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR WON’T HELP: Apple cider vinegar has many clever uses. Reducing belly fat probably isn't one of them, though trendy diets may say so. The tangy liquid comes from apples that are mashed, distilled, then fermented. Some people think the acetic acid it contains might boost health in some ways. Studies on animals have shown a glimmer of hope that it might help burn visceral fat. But there’s no scientific evidence that it has the same effect on people.

DON’T BLAME BEER: Beer often takes the rap for a tubby tummy -- hence the term "beer belly." Studies suggest it’s a bit more complicated than that, though. The foamy stuff has plenty of calories. So, it might make you gain weight. But it doesn’t necessarily make the fat settle around your middle. A more likely culprit? Sodas and other sweetened drinks. Some research has suggested that sugar can boost belly fat.

SWAP SODA FOR GREEN TEA: To trim belly fat, be smart about your diet -- eat sensible portions, lots of veggies, and little junk food. And instead of soda, consider green tea. A few studies have suggested that catechins, antioxidants found in green tea, might help (a little) to burn visceral fat. The results are far from certain. But one thing is clear: Subbing tea for sugary drinks will save calories. Just don't load it up with honey or sugar.

THE FACTS ABOUT FISH OIL: Fish oil has long been considered a heart-healthy supplement. The FDA recently approved a drug made from fish oil to help control triglycerides, a fat found in your blood. But for busting belly fat? Not so much. A study of overweight men who took fish oil supplements found no change in their stomach fat.

BELLY FAT AND YOUR BONES: For a long time, doctors thought extra weight could help keep your bones strong and protect you from fractures. But research shows that's not necessarily true, at least when it comes to visceral fat. One study found that men with more belly fat had weaker bones. Another study looked at women who hadn't yet gone through menopause. It found that those with more belly fat had lower bone density, a warning sign of osteoporosis.

REVIEWED BY: Sabrina Felson, MD, WebMD, on May 18, 2020

REFERENCES:

Johns Hopkins: "The Skinny on Visceral Fat."

Cleveland Clinic: "Tips for Losing Belly Fat," "Want to Lose the Belly Fat?"

Harvard Health Publishing: "Abdominal fat and what to do about it," "Deep Belly Fat May Weaken Your Bones," "Apple Cider Vinegar Diet: Does It Really Work?"

Mayo Clinic: "Examining the role of visceral fat in worsening inflammation, organ failure and reduced survival in patients with acute pancreatitis," "Triglycerides: Why Do They Matter?"

JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging: "Visceral Adiposity and the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome Across Body Mass Index.”

Frontiers in Physiology: Why Do Men Accumulate Abdominal Visceral Fat?"

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy: "Visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio as a predictor of the multiple metabolic risk factors for subjects with normal waist circumference in Korea."

Rush University Medical Center: "Is There 'One Trick' to Losing Belly Fat?"

Journal of Functional Foods: "Effects of catechin-enriched green tea beverage on visceral fat loss in adults with a high proportion of visceral fat: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial."

National Cancer Institute: Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

Mayo Clinic News Network: Mayo Clinic Minute: "Figuring out fish oil," "Belly fat in women: Taking -- and keeping -- it off."

Nutrients: "Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on Hepatic and Visceral Fat in Overweight Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial."

Columbia University Irving Medical Center: "Study Finds Belly Fat is Associated with Poor Bone Quality."

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine, #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2LiveWell #FeelFree2SignUpAndFollow

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.
 
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.