Belly Fat In Women: Facts You Need To Know

You know it’s not attractive.

No woman wants a jiggling flabby belly hanging over a cute bikini bottom or slopping out over an adorable pair of jeans.

You can blame your DNA or your hormones or your age. But the fact remains that you still have to fight that sloppy stomach as if your life depends on it.

Your health risk

Medical research has consistently shown that when you have more hidden visceral adiposity or belly fat, you have an increased risk of life-threatening diseases and an increased risk of earlier death (Koster, American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008).

You have a greater risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, gallbladder problems, and colon cancer.

Belly fat in women can alter female hormone production and increase the risk of breast cancer.

This killer fat adipose tissue secretes unique chemicals that not only disrupt your hormone balance, but can alter important normalizing biochemical pathways. Research has recently identified inflammatory molecules associated with this adipose tissue that can create painful damage throughout your whole body.

How much is too much?

A woman can find out if she has too much belly fat with an easy home test: a tape measure.

Studies have shown that measuring your waist circumference has proven a more reliable predictor of health risk than your BMI (body mass index) or other complicated procedures (Lee, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2008).

Place your tape measure above your hipbones and keep it level. Let your breath out and relax to get the proper measurement. Don’t pull your stomach in.

For the average adult woman, a waist measurement of 33 to 35 inches is the upper limit for good health (Blackburn, Harvard Medical School, and Jensen, Mayo Clinic).

Basic strategies

You know that a flabby tummy won’t go away by itself.

Health authorities recommend a comprehensive diet and exercise plan to lose weight and keep your stomach flat. You can start with a good belly fat diet, but remember, you’ll have to improve many of your lifestyle habits to get the healthy results you can maintain.

Women, especially teenage, child-bearing, and postmenopausal women, should try to include low-fat dairy products or other calcium sources. Women who already have health conditions or are taking medication should check with their health care provider for individualized advice.

Remember, this unique killer adipose tissue is actively working against your health all the time. Your health can improve as soon as you start to lose the belly fat.

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