Most people are very conscious of how they look, and thus they are quite concerned about tummy fat.  A fat tummy just does not look very good if you are wearing shorts, or a bikini, or if you have an important event such as a wedding coming up. But few people realize that having a fat belly is also very bad for your body and overall health.

The Risks In Carrying Excess Tummy Fat

There are two main types of fat, subcutaneous fat which lies just under your skin, and visceral fat which surrounds your organs.  Having an excess of visceral fat is worse for you, health wise, than subcutaneous fat.

There are several common health problems that can arise in people who have too much belly fat.  According to studies made, extra fat around the midsection can be an indication of other serious problems, such as inflammation and hardening of the arteries. Unless you know how to get rid of belly fat you may find that you begin to have other health problems as well, such as a stroke, problems with your heart and high blood pressure, and a proclivity towards diabetes and cancer.

Excess stomach fat is also indicative of poor eating habits, and a lack of exercise. In the United States alone, recent studies have shown that around three hundred thousand deaths a year are directly related to poor diet and lack of exercise. Consequently, if you have too much tummy fat you must realize that not only does it look unseemly but you are also actually in danger physically.  It is therefore important that you really begin now to trim off belly fat.

Who is At Risk?

There is a simple way to see if you are at risk due to having too much tummy fat.  Simply lie down and measure around your waist, which is found right above your hips and below your navel. Just relax, don’t breath in, and take the measurement.

If your waist is larger than 40 inches in males and 35 inches for females, your health may be in danger from having too many visceral fat deposits in your mid region. You may be a prime candidate for heart disease and other physical ailments. If that is the case you may want to seriously consider taking action and getting rid of that excess tummy fat.

Tags: belly fat, health problems