Dangers of Belly Fat
By Fitness Atlantic Writer: Brian Cannone

We are aware that it is not possible to just get rid of fat from one particular area, or spot reduce. No matter how many sit ups, or crunches we do, the abs will never show if we have an excess of body fat.

The only way to get visible abs is to decrease overall body fat. Fat distribution, or where our body stores fat, is dependent on several factors. The location of fat is affected by genetics, gender, as well as age and amount of fat that needs to be stored. The majority of fat is stored between the skin and muscle. This is called subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat is stored under the muscle and around the organs.

As we age, there is a shift of fat storage from subcutaneous to more visceral storage. A person with a hard, pronounced "pot-belly" probably has a high amount of visceral fat and stores their subcutaneous fat in this central region.

Typically this higher visceral fat distribution is seen in males, and their shape is considered android, or apple shape. Females hold a higher amount of fat around their hips and waists, which is considered gynoid, or pear shaped.

Scientist have found that greater amounts of body fat in the central region, and those with high amounts of visceral fat, are at greater risk cardiovascular and metabolic problems. Included in these is elevated blood sugars, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It has been seen that fat cells in various parts of the body (ie: belly vs. hips) respond differently to hormones. For example, females higher estrogen production enhances their storage of gynoid fat while abdominal fat storage is enhanced by testosterone.

Males are at a disadvantage to some degree because they naturally hold more abdominal fat and this fat is more dangerous. They are at an advantage though because this apple shape fat distribution is more easily altered & lost when diet and exercise habits are changed. Thus, they can be at greater risk due to their fat storage, but men can also expect to see quicker changes in their body fat.

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Fat cells are made up of fatty acids. These fatty acids can be released (and thus decrease the amount of fat one has), and are affected by chemical receptors. Males and females have different kind of receptors in their fat cells that affect the release of the fatty acids. In the lower body, the man's receptors tend to freely release the fatty acids, but the females receptors resist this release. The result is that females have a harder time losing fat in the hips and waist.

Many methods exist to measure body fat, inclusive of skin-fold measurements and girth measurements. The skin calipers intentionally pinch sites with higher subcutaneous fat distribution. Circumference measurements are usually done to track changes in this fat as well.

Abdominal circumference measurements have proved useful in predicting disease because it shows where fat is likely to be stored. This measurement is taken at the level of the belly button. A male with a measurement above 40 inches, or a female with a measurement above 34.5 inches is at considered to be at high risk for disease.

The take home lesson here is that men do tend to lose body fat quicker than females, men with excess body fat are at greater risk since the fat is centrally located, and everyone can lose body fat by dieting and exercising.

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