Most of us want to reduce belly fat simply because we think it looks ugly. But research has suggested that having extra fat in general isn’t all that matters – it also matters where we carry this extra fat.

Belly fat in particular (sometimes referred to as fat around the abdomen) has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer. And, what’s worse, is that belly fat can affect just about everyone: even those who don’t have much excess fat elsewhere on the body.

Understanding the Real Risk and the Relation of Belly Fat to Your BMI

If you still don’t think you need to take action to reduce belly fat, think again! One reason why people don’t think there’s a risk is because they might have a healthy BMI according to their doctor. This stands for body mass index and measures your weight in relation to your height. It’s useful for knowing if you’re overweight or underweight, but it doesn’t give the full picture. If the majority of your fat is on your belly, then you’re at more risk, for example, than someone who has the majority of their fat on the thighs.

What Makes Belly Fat Different?

The type of fat carried on the belly is different to the type of fat on the rest of the body. It is biologically more active than the other types of fat in our body, which can cause calcium to build up in our arteries. Not only this, but the way it works can affect cell growth, increasing the chances of developing cancer.

On top of this, diabetes research shows that the fat around the belly can make cells more resistant to insulin, putting you at risk of diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure and strokes.

If you’ve never really seen the need to reduce belly fat, let this be a wake up call! You need to do it and you need to start today!