The Dangers of Excess Belly Fat in Women
Posted on 04. Jul, 2010 by Coach Ronda in Belly Fat
If you can’t wear low-cut jeans because your “muffin top” is on full display, you’re uncomfortable wearing fitted tops because your stomach sticks out like a sore thumb, or anything other than baggy just doesn’t feel right, your belly fat poses more of a problem than keeping you from looking good.
The fact that your belly fat hangs over your belt or makes that sexy dress impossible to wear is definitely annoying. But the true problem with belly fat does not solely lie in the unflattering physical appearance – it’s the health problems it can cause that are far worse.
Excess belly fat is turning out to be more serious than fat in other areas of the body. While you may not revel in the fat that’s on your hips, thighs, butt, and arms, these areas don’t pose a major threat to your health. But fat around the middle of your waist does.
If you are carrying excess belly fat, you are more prone to have difficulty with chronic diseases. In fact, there has been a direct correlation between belly fat accumulation and developing diabetes. Having excess belly fat can cause your body to become resistant to insulin which helps to regulate blood sugar. When it becomes resistant, you are at risk for diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects your blood sugar and circulation. People with excess belly fat tend to have higher cholesterol, higher blood sugar, and higher blood pressure. That means that they are at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke.
But let’s be clear. Having fat just below the skin, but above the muscle (that is, subcutaneous fat) is not terribly dangerous. This fat doesn’t have metabolic activity that leads to disease. However, the fat that is beneath the muscle and surrounds your organs (visceral fat) is very dangerous and is the culprit when it comes to diabetes and heart disease risk factors.
If you’re not sure whether you’re in danger from excess belly fat, you’ll need to take a simple measurement. Using a measuring tape, measure the circumference of your waist. If it’s below 35 inches, you’re probably not at very high risk. But if it’s over 35 inches, it’s time to take steps now to eliminate excess belly fat.
If you’re below 35 inches, but you’re getting close, now is the time to prevent problems. By taking control of your diet, exercise, stress levels, and amount of sleep, you’ll be able to get rid of excess belly fat and achieve better health. It’s much easier to prevent disease than it is to treat it once you have it. Getting rid of excess belly fat will improve your heart health and decrease your risk of contracting diabetes.
