What You Should Know About Belly Fat

Get the best of POPSUGAR
Fitness — in your inbox!

Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional):

Yoga Working Out Running Weight Loss

What You Should Know About Belly Fat

April 30, 2009

A spare tire around your belly doesn't make you feel very attractive in your bikini, but more importantly, belly fat is the most unhealthy type of fat you can have. To see why and learn how to diminish yours, take this little quiz.

Source

53 Comments

3 years 25 weeks

I can say that I am that woman, and I am making an effort. And it sure ain't easy. While I may never have a flat stomach like the nitwit who commented in here, I am proud of myself, and others who are trying to get themselves on track not because of what others say, but because they want to for them. Yes, I have known the statistics and the high risk, but I never saw myself as just another statistic. Scare tactics don't work easily with me. And until I got into the frame of mind that I was ready, truly ready, to get healthier, the weight sure wasn't coming off. Although, perhaps it would be easier if our society would invest in preventive healthcare efforts, but I suppose that's a whole other story ...

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 37 weeks

I don't find that photo offensive. If anything I'm happy that the headless lady is making the effort.

4 years 2 weeks

I don't find the truth offensive and the picture of the fat woman fit the content of the article. Obesity is unhealthy and unattractive. It's so pathetic so many adults want their precious little feelings to be protected from harsh realities

hithatsmybike 4 years 2 weeks

Build & thyroid problems don't make you 300lbs. Ever. It's one thing to be 10, 15, or even 20lbs overweight, but 150? No. You would have to have a very rare disorder to sustain that amount of body fat with daily exercise and healthy eating.

hithatsmybike 4 years 2 weeks

Build & thyroid problems don't make you 300lbs. Ever.It's one thing to be 10, 15, or even 20lbs overweight, but 150? No. You would have to have a very rare disorder to sustain that amount of body fat with daily exercise and healthy eating.

4 years 2 weeks

@ hithatsmybike: oh, so should we assume that you, with your flat stomach, are anorexic? There are plenty of medical and genetic reasons why a person might have excess body fat - build and thyroid problems are just two examples. There are also numerous psychological reasons why a person may have a little (or a lot) of the dreaded "ab flab". You're not God - you don't know her - don't judge her. She's at a gym - she's trying to lose weight. Give her a break!

bairdlet 4 years 2 weeks

to le romantique; I know that for throat cancer, at least, belly fat gives you a higher risk. I've worked on the molecular signaling biology behind Barrett's esophagus, a type of cancer of the throat caused by acid reflux disease. Belly fat causes actual physical pressure on the internal workings of the upper digestive system, causing you to have more frequent,.and longer bouts, of heartburn. The acid in heartburn, over years, can lead to neoplastic (read: cancerous) growth in your distal esophagus. Also, fat in general screws with your cancer risk. Your ratio of regulatory fatty hormones- right now, I'm thinking specifically of leptin and adiponectin- gets switched around, which can cause havoc with metabolic processes within your body, including the cell-to-cell instructions that over time can lead to cancerous growth.

bairdlet 4 years 2 weeks

to le romantique;I know that for throat cancer, at least, belly fat gives you a higher risk. I've worked on the molecular signaling biology behind Barrett's esophagus, a type of cancer of the throat caused by acid reflux disease. Belly fat causes actual physical pressure on the internal workings of the upper digestive system, causing you to have more frequent,.and longer bouts, of heartburn. The acid in heartburn, over years, can lead to neoplastic (read: cancerous) growth in your distal esophagus.Also, fat in general screws with your cancer risk. Your ratio of regulatory fatty hormones- right now, I'm thinking specifically of leptin and adiponectin- gets switched around, which can cause havoc with metabolic processes within your body, including the cell-to-cell instructions that over time can lead to cancerous growth.

4 years 2 weeks

I got 5/5 on the quiz...seemed like common sense. But I feel bad for those women who pile the weight straight on their waists. I got up to a size 14 once and even then my waist never exceeded 28 inches and I'm 5'7.5 feet tall. I put the weight straight on my hips and breasts. S'pose that's a bonus, not that I plan on breakingo ut of my size 8 frame anytime soon.

verily 4 years 2 weeks

It's nice to know that some people are apparently omniscient. You know NOTHING about that woman's lifestyle.

witchbaby 4 years 3 weeks

when i gain weight is go right to the middle. ugh i hate it.

hithatsmybike 4 years 3 weeks

Yeah, it happens from crappy diet + not exercising. That woman in the photo must weight at least 300lbs. There's no excuse for reaching that size, it absolutely IS 100% due to bad eating and lack of exercise.

hithatsmybike 4 years 3 weeks

Yeah, it happens from crappy diet + not exercising.That woman in the photo must weight at least 300lbs. There's no excuse for reaching that size, it absolutely IS 100% due to bad eating and lack of exercise.

annissa 4 years 3 weeks

The photo, but mostly the comments about the photo are really offensive to me. Don't kid yourselves into thinking you're better than a fat woman and don't assume you know what it's like. Anyone who has been that size before knows it didn't just happen because of eating a 'crappy diet'. There are a lot more things going on than just that,

hithatsmybike 4 years 3 weeks

Yes, it does. (and this is documented)

hithatsmybike 4 years 3 weeks

Yes, it does.(and this is documented)

4 years 3 weeks

Like laellavita, I just tend to gain any weight right in my belly. I assume these guidelines refer to extreme cases of belly flab, because not everyone gains their weight in their legs and buns. It doesn't make "apple" shapes atomically more susceptible to cancer, etc.

hithatsmybike 4 years 3 weeks

5/5 =) and I've got the flat belly to prove it! I've never gained weight around my middle.. it just goes to my butt if I put on pounds. Oh well.

hithatsmybike 4 years 3 weeks

5/5 =) and I've got the flat belly to prove it! I've never gained weight around my middle.. it just goes to my butt if I put on pounds. Oh well.

Ava Gardner 4 years 3 weeks

Ugh, I train 5 days a week and watch my weight but I just can't get rid of my pot belly, I was born into a family of apple shaped women - I have bordering on skinny thighs/arms and butt - every bit of spare flesh goes to my belly, I hate it.

opentypeA 4 years 3 weeks

5/5! Wow! I think this is the first quiz on which I've gotten 100%! :-D

Niami 4 years 3 weeks

5/5 - it is hard to lose the belly. 70 pounds gone and it was mostly lost from my thighs, butt and boobs. =/

Renees3 4 years 3 weeks

ah the bane of my existence. The ONLY place I gain weight is around my middle. I have small hips, small arms, legs, medium chest and a fat stomach. I'm WAY over the healthy limit, but even when I lost 25 lbs last year my waist BARELY went down, it's so frustrating!