Risks associated with belly fat compared to obesity | NJ.com

Some people have long joked that they aren?t fat; they just have a belly. Yet research shows that abdominal fat puts people at higher risk for chronic disease then those who carry subcutaneous fat, or fat that is evenly distributed under the skin throughout the body. Statistics show that these risks significantly increase with a waist circumference exceeding 40 inches.

One major CDC study tracked 12,785 Americans over a period of some 14 years. The participants were divided into groups of overweight, obese, and those of a healthy weight. Their BMI and waist to hip ratio (WHR) measurements were recorded. By the conclusion of the study 2,562 had died. Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez and his research team discovered that those who had a normal BMI but a high WHR had a higher risk of mortality. Those who are of a healthy weight but carry high concentrations of fat around their abdomen are 50 percent more likely to die from disease than those who are generally obese. They also found out that those with more fat in their legs and buttocks, as opposed to abdominal fat, the ?better the profile: better cholesterol, lower glucose, lower triglycerides, and lower insulin.? Lopez-Jimenez and his team cannot figure out exactly why this is, but they have a few theories.

One theory suggests that abdominal fat, or visceral fat, in its proximity to the stomach interferes with your metabolism and the circulation of metabolic hormones. This can lead to Type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance, and internal inflammation that can increase the risk of cancer. Those with high abdominal fat also tend to have a lower muscular density, thus also interfering with glucose levels, and slowing metabolism.
Abdominal fat seems to be largely connected to a poor diet, as opposed to lack of exercise. Thus these study results should not be a surprise. When it comes to developing chronic disease, whether you are considered clinically obese or not, diet is a key factor.

Source: http://blog.nj.com/fitness/2012/09/risks_associated_with_belly_fat_compared_to_obesity.html

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