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Belly Fat Increases Chance Of Premature Death

For years, we’ve known obesity leads to disease and, often, premature death. But should we be concerned with more than just the number on the scale? New research finds that where fat is located on your body plays a more significant role in your level of health than simply how much you weigh.

What Are The Effects Of Belly Fat?

Belly fat is much worse than fat on other areas of your body. This is because having excess fat in your stomach often leads to an accumulation of fat inside vital organs, such as the liver. As a result, your risk of certain diseases increases.

What does this mean in terms of obesity? Simply put, being a technically normal weight doesn’t necessarily clear you from the risks involved in being overweight. If you’re in the normal category for weight but carry extra fat around your midsection, then you’re at risk for these conditions:

  • Heart disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Inflammation
  • Diabetes
  • Stroke

How Does The Rate Of Premature Death Factor In?

According to research published in Annals of Internal Medicine, excess belly fat increases the risk of premature death. But the shocking news found in this research? That people of normal weight with excess fat around their midsections actually experienced a higher risk of dying early than overweight people. The findings below further show the seriousness of belly fat.

  • A normal weight man with excess fat around the waist had an increased risk of premature death by 87% when compared to a normal weight male without excess belly fat.
  • A normal weight man was found during the study to have twice the risk of dying early compared to a man considered obese based on BMI.
  • A normal weight woman with extra stomach fat was found to have a 50% higher risk of premature death than a woman whose weight was distributed more equally.
  • A normal weight woman with excess belly fat had 32% higher risk of early death than a woman considered obese based on BMI.

How Can Belly Fat Be Reduced?

The first step when it comes to controlling belly fat is to find out if it’s a problem for you. You can have a doctor examine you, or you can simply measure your belly. For the best health, women should have a waistline that measures under 35 inches, and men should measure 40 inches or less.

Here are some tips to get rid of belly fat:

  • Get 20 minutes of vigorous exercise four days a week.
  • Consume plenty of fiber.
  • Avoid junk food.
  • Sleep at least seven hours each night.

To get rid of excess belly fat for good and improve your vitality overall, reach out to the pros at Matrix Age Management.

Tags: Overall Health

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