In most people, about 90% of body fat is subcutaneous, the kind that lies in a layer just beneath the skin. If you poke your belly, the fat that feels soft is subcutaneous fat. The remaining 10% — called visceral or intra-abdominal fat — lies out of reach, beneath the firm abdominal wall.
The best way to tell if you have visceral fat is to measure your waist. The waist circumference is a good indicator of how much fat is deep inside the belly, around the organs. For women, your risk of chronic disease is increased if the waist circumference is 80 cm or more and for men 94cm or more.
Subcutaneous fat is the belly fat you can feel if you pinch excess skin and tissue around your middle. Visceral fat is belly fat that accumulates in your abdomen in the spaces between your organs. Too much visceral fat is strongly linked with a greater risk of serious health problems.
When excess visceral fat is burned, the body then begins tackling excess subcutaneous fat. Unfortunately, subcutaneous fat is harder to lose. Subcutaneous fat is more visible, but it takes more effort to lose because of the function it serves in your body.
An alcohol belly is caused by drinking too much alcohol and consuming alcoholic beverages with too many calories. On the other hand, a hormonal belly is a lower abdominal weight gain that's caused by a hormonal imbalance with hormones either being too high or too low.
A 2018 analysis suggests that hormone replacement therapy may help reduce belly fat. A person can also exercise regularly and maintain a healthful diet. Learn how to lose weight during menopause.
PCOS belly refers to the abdominal fat causing an increased waist-to-hip ratio, PCOS Belly will look like an apple-shaped belly rather than a pear-shaped belly. One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is weight gain, particularly around the abdominal area.
Too many starchy carbohydrates and bad fats are a recipe for that midsection to expand. Instead, get plenty of veggies, choose lean proteins, and stay away from fats from red meats. Choose healthier fats in things like fish, nuts, and avocados. Even a moderate cutback on carbs (grains, pasta, sugars) can help, too.
Before you rush to your doctor to get a prescription for your hormonal belly, there are natural ways to readjust your levels. Reducing sugar intake, eliminating processed foods from your diet, and avoiding things like dairy, alcohol, and caffeine can all help reset your blood sugar and insulin levels.
Chronic stress causes you to gain belly fat while also impacting your ability to sleep. When you get less than six hours of sleep, you also develop more visceral fat. It's a vicious cycle, but it's important to break it.
How do you know if a swollen stomach is caused by bloating or fat? The most telling observation is how the distention varies across an entire day. “If it is fat, it will never go down, but if it changes with meals or bowel movements, it is likely to be bloating,” Dr. Curtin says.
If you notice your stomach tends to become more round after meals or the puffiness seems to come and go, it's more likely you're dealing with bloating. However, if your rounder stomach is consistent and you've been dealing with it for a while, it's more likely to be caused by fat.
The bulging lower abdominal problem commonly occurs in women after childbirth, but may also effect men and women who haven't experienced pregnancy. It's a result of weakened transverse abdominus and overactive external oblique muscles.
If your primary goal is to increase your aerobic endurance or lose body fat, then you should perform cardio first. If your primary goal is to increase muscular strength, then do strength training first.
Losing stubborn belly fat is often one of the hardest and last areas to see improvement for many dieters. Losing belly fat and getting a flat stomach is done through achieving a caloric deficit by eating less, exercising more, and doing that for at least 6-12 weeks.
The OVARY body type or ovary belly is a female-only problem and is where weight is gained in the thigh and lower belly areas. The ovary belly type is also caused by an excess of the oestrogen hormone, and it's often more present during hormonal changes that take place during menstruation and after giving birth.
As mentioned earlier, the PCOS belly shape is usually large and bloated but can also be small. This means you can have a flat stomach and still have PCOS, so watch out for other symptoms. Those with a big belly can gain a flat tummy through dietary and lifestyle changes.
Functional reasons for a distended abdomen tend to involve digestive problems that cause gas and/or digestive contents to accumulate. Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents.
02/9What is stress belly? Stress belly is not a medical condition, it is a sign of how stress and stress hormones are affecting your weight and especially belly fat. The high levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone is associated with abdominal fat.
What does hormonal weight gain look like? Hormonal weight gain looks like any type of excess weight. Factors such as age, sex, body type, and cause of weight gain may make you gain weight differently. However, it's not possible to know that hormones are causing your weight gain by the way it looks.