WHY BELLY FAT IS A POTENTIAL KILLER

Researchers have long revealed that belly fat, also referred to as waist fat, can double your risk of dying prematurely. The study was published in November 12, 2008, in the New England Journal of Medicine. The scholars had followed 360,000 Europeans who were enrolled in the study, one of the most extensive health research, which lasted for several years. https://www.eurekalert.org/

This eye-opening research agrees with other studies that warn that those who have more belly fat, and thus have larger pot-bellies, were at greater risk of dying untimely than those whose bellies were smaller, as a result of having less belly fat. Secondly, another stunning revelation was the discovery that those whose waistlines measured beyond the normal range as a result of belly or waist fat, stood the same risk, even though they were not overweight. Consequently, excess belly or waist fat should be avoided if one wishes to prevent premature death.

Now, the normal or recommended waistline measurement for men is less than 40 inches, while that of ladies is less than 35 inches. ?Some doctors even warn that waistline measurements beyond these recommended range show that a person may be carrying potentially harmful quantity of waist or belly fat in his or her body. ?

Personally, I know that the less fat you carry in your entire body, including your waistline, the healthier you are. Even though I believe that something must kill someone, I do not want what I know and have been warned of as dangerous to kill me. Please hear it again from me: Belly or waist fat, in fact, every excess fat in the body, are potential killers. Those who give excuses should take note. However, what worries me most is the level of ignorance some people display about this potential health destroyer.

Health Risks Associated with Belly Fat

Most people are probably unfamiliar with the health risks associated with belly fat. I have talked with some of them, especially my friends, and they don’t seem to know much about the health risks belly fat exposes them to. The much some people know, actually a guess, is that the excess fat they have in their bodies, especially around their waist, may be responsible for their perennial high blood pressure.

Apart from Type 2 diabetes, which is the commonest problem that is associated with waist or abdominal fat, impaired lung function is a serious consequence of waist or abdominal fat. On the other hand, insulin resistance, the trigger of Type 2 Diabetes, is the major affliction individuals with abdominal fat suffer.

There is also the risk of someone with abdominal or waist fat developing lung function disorders, for example, asthma, as a study of 88,0000 teachers in California, U.SA revealed.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

The above study also indicated that people who carry excess belly fat, also known as abdominal obesity, may suffer frequent strong or migraine headaches.

On the other hand, there is the potential danger of any individual accommodating excess belly fat in his or her body developing certain cancers. For women in their post-menopausal era, the risk of developing colon and breast cancers are double, when compared with women, and probably men, of that age bracket – men past the age of 40 and above, who have less waist fat or size. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

In addition, individuals with excess waist/belly fat, have more chances of developing cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, stroke, etc.

Some reasons people develop excess belly or waist fat

Have you wondered why some people just suddenly begin to get ‘wide’ around their waist and abdomen? Okay, here are some reasons most individuals gain excess belly or waist fat. In actual fact, nutritional scientists assure as that having the appropriate amount of belly fat is very beneficial to our health. The right amount of fat in your body, especially your belly area shields or protects your internal body organs, such as your intestines, lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, etc. However, too much of anything is bad and dangerous, just as excess belly fat is bad for you.

Now, the major reasons people could develop pot-bellies are as follows:

1. Unhealthy diet lifestyle – unsuitable food choices. A person who is 40 should stop eating what a 20 year old or a younger person feeds on. For example, eating meat pies, cakes, doughnuts, etc. is unsuitable for the above 40s.

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2. Stress. Negative stress that injure one’s mental or physical health should be avoided. When a relationship is taking away your peace of mind, or puts you in great danger over and over again, resulting in mental, emotional or physical stress, you may consider walking away, so that you can alive to fight another day.

?3. Sedentary Lifestyle or lack of movements/exercises. So much has been said about exercises. Just taking a brisk walk of say, 30 minutes every day is what anyone who wants to live an improved health should implement.

I have written about other issues that result in weight gain in my previous articles and do not wish to repeat myself here. However, a deliberate diet lifestyle change can go a long way to help you lose your waist or belly fat, and thus avoid the risks involved.

On the other hand, you can start today to take care of your health by going to have your waistline measured to ensure that you’re not unconsciously carrying a time-bomb around your waist or in your stomach. Please, take responsibility of your wellbeing today. I understand that your wife or whoever cooks the food you eat determines what you eat, but it’s not everything offered to you that must enter your mouth.

How to prevent Belly fat

I guess you know the list of the “don’ts” more than I do. However, I find these four ‘don’ts’ crucial in the fight to keep belly fat at bay.

1. Stop late night eating (between 8 pm till you go to sleep)

2. Do not eat large portions of food after 5 p.m.

3. If you must snack at 5 p.m. and beyond, then snack on veggies, fruits and nuts. And avoid filling your stomach.

4. Do not take carbonated beverages, including alcohol.

?To your great health!

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