The Danger of Belly Fat

 

In a study of Kaiser Permanente patients in Northern California, middle-aged people with excess visceral fat — more commonly known as belly fat — were nearly three times more likely to develop dementia three decades later than those with the least abdominal fat. The deeper belly fat — the visceral fat that accumulates around abdominal organs — is metabolically active and has been strongly linked to a host of serious disease risks, including heart disease, cancer, and dementia.

Doctors theorize that this fat may release toxins associated with atherosclerosis or the buildup of plaque in the brain that is frequently present in those afflicted with Alzheimer’s. The study defined people who were 30 pounds or more overweight and who had developed belly fat in their 40’s were 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia. They reported that the risk for men with belly fat goes up when their waist exceeds 40 inches; for women, it’s 35 inches.

Doctors recommend a combination of weight training and aerobic exercise that targets the whole body (not just the abdominals), a low-fat diet, and minimal sugar. Surprisingly, recent research has suggested that including dairy products and getting plenty of sleep may help when it comes to battling belly fat.

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