Texoma Living Well Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 18

E Belly Fat ach day millions of people are becoming aware of the risks of excess fat in the abdominal area also known as “belly fat.” It is not the idea of not fitting into your favorite jeans anymore, right now it is about your health. According to a recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (2015), abdominal fat is tending to be very common among adults. For this reason obesity is a major issue in the United States. When a person exercises too little and doesn’t balance the amount of calories going in and burning off, excess body fat can accumulate in the abdominal area. This aspect, plus the fact that with aging comes muscle mass loss, means one thing––you need to take charge of your health. You can do it! metabolically active and produces factors and hormones that increase risks for the illnesses mentioned above. Even skinny people can have hidden, unhealthy belly fat. Take note: waist measurements with the use of a tape measure of more than 35 inches for women and more than 40 inches in men need to be evaluated. The science behind it Women and men There are two types of belly fat: subcutaneous and visceral. While the subcutaneous fat refers to the one between the skin and the wall of the abdomen H