Battling to maintain a healthy belly may be more impactful to your overall health than you could have ever imagined. Belly fat is becoming more of a norm in the U.S. among adults and children. There hasn’t been a time in U.S. history when belly fat was at a higher rate amongst its citizens.
What makes belly fat most dangerous is when it increases in the abdominal region and surrounds the internal organs. Belly fat is why people are at a higher risk for developing heart disease, liver complications, diabetes, some cancer types and sudden death is a higher probability.
Dementia, strokes and heart attacks are also on the list of significant health challenges tied to high levels of belly fat. And we are not talking about being obese when we say belly fat. “You don’t even have to be overweight or obese to face these hazards if you harbor excess fat inside your abdomen.”
Part of the reason for increased body fat is people being less active recently, and restaurants have also increased their portion sizes. Processed foods are one of the main current-day culprits that many lose the battle to keep a healthy waistline. Processed foods include most often dangerous levels of sodium, sugar and fat, plus many other unnatural and harmful ingredients.
According to many reports, those processed combinations in “foods” are highly addictive and lead to overeating, depression, and compromised health.
What constitutes a waistline with unhealthy fat?
That’s a great question to start a healthy conversation with your Doctor on your next visit. A general health risk indicator is when the waist is greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women. Assessing what an accurate healthy waist size is according to your height and body type will again be best explored with a doctor or health professional. Some suggestions to reduce unhealthy fat around the waist include the elimination of processed foods, cardio exercises, and, believe it or not, reducing levels of stress in your life.
Thirty minutes of exercise four to five times a week is an excellent start to reducing excess weight. Learning as much as you can about the dangers of belly fat can also serve as a great motivator while on the journey to eliminate this silent and deadly threat.
May your struggle to get the extra waste off your waist be victorious and safe.
Words by Kaba Abdul-Fattaah.
