THE ALARMING TRUTH ABOUT ABDOMINAL OBESITY

You may be familiar with the terms “abdominal obesity” or “central adiposity”. These are terms that are used to describe belly fat. Simply put, if you carry too much fat around your belly, then you are suffering from ‘Abdominal Obesity.’

Here’s why you need to be especially vigilant if you have a large belly – you could be at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, and Heart Disease.

You may wonder what makes Abdominal Fat/Abdominal Obesity so harmful to your health. You need to understand that there are two different kinds of abdominal fat. Some of it is fatty tissue located just beneath the skin, which is not that much of a threat. It is the fat inside the abdomen that poses the largest threat. This ‘visceral fat’ is located around the internal organs and is linked to overactivity of the body’s stress response mechanisms, which raise blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cardiac risk. To explain this further – unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat cells release their metabolic products directly into the ‘portal circulation’, which carries blood directly to the liver. As a result, visceral fat cells that are enlarged and stuffed with excess triglycerides pour free fatty acids into the liver. These free fatty acids also accumulate in the pancreas, heart and other organs, leading to organ dysfunction, which results in impaired regulation of insulin, blood sugar, and cholesterol, as well as abnormal heart function.

To assess your health risks from Abdominal Obesity, it is important to first measure your belly circumference. You could either have this done at your doctor’s office, using expensive scanning equipment, or you could use a simple measuring tape. Bring the tape around the widest part of your belly, across your navel. In males, a waist circumference of 40 inches is regarded as Abdominal Obesity. In women, a waist circumference more than 35 inches is equally a cause for alarm.

If you find yourself in the Abdominal Obese range, then it is vitally important to lose weight, especially around your middle. Consult your doctor, set some weight loss goals, and begin an exercise regimen targeting your belly. You will also need to adjust your diet, incorporating healthy foods that elevate heart health and enable you to keep your weight down. Above all, decrease stress and enhance wellbeing.