It has been discovered that fat around the middle quite literally has a mind of its own. Even relatively skinny people can have a bit of a paunch and they can be as much at risk as those who register as overweight on the scales.
We tend to store fat around our middle because it is close to vital organs, such as the liver, so it can be quickly converted into energy if we need it. The problem is, in Western societies today we lead much more sedentary lives than we did millions of years ago and so there’s not so much demand for this energy source - so the fat stores increase and our bellies get bigger!
The fat around the abdomen is usually accompanied by visceral fat that wraps around your internal organs. The function of this fat is to act as a shock absorber, so we need it but not in excessive amounts. Fat around the waist and belly is sometimes known as ‘toxic fat’ as it encourages an inflammatory state in the body and can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
So if you are holding onto weight around the middle make a commitment to yourself today to do something about it. A programme combining, good nutrition, positive thinking and plenty of exercise will see you well on your way to a healthier you.
Manjula Cote BA Hons, DNN, FNTP, ITEC, Nutritionist for REBOOT
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