There are two types of belly fat: visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat surrounds the organs, and subcutaneous fat is found right beneath the skin. Subcutaneous adipose tissue is mostly innocuous.
Gynoid fat is the body fat that forms around the hips, breasts and thighs. Gynoid fat in females is used to provide nourishment for offspring, and is often referred to as 'reproductive fat'.
Visceral fat
This means you're likely to notice weight loss in your abdominal area first. Too much visceral fat can make your belly protrude. If your belly is hard and not squishy, it's likely due to an excess of visceral fat. This can increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.
Causes include poor diet, lack of exercise, and short or low-quality sleep. A healthy diet and active lifestyle can help people lose excess belly fat and lower the risk of problems associated with it.
A combination of diet and exercise may help symptoms. A person can perform exercises that burn fat, such as running, walking, and other aerobic activity. Reducing the calories a person consumes can also help.
What is an apron belly? Pregnancy, weight loss, and weight gain can cause you to have an excessive amount of fat, tissue, and skin hanging down from your abdomen. Called “apron belly” because it looks like you're wearing an apron around your waist, it can also be referred to as a pannus stomach.
Subcutaneous fat is the soft belly fat that you can poke. It's found under your skin. Meanwhile, visceral belly fat surrounds the organs in your abdominal cavity and is strongly linked to increased disease risk.
Because of its proximity to the liver, visceral fat is usually the easier fat to burn. It's the less risky subcutaneous fat that likes to stick around.
The word for a person who is EXTREMELY fat is obese. We also have the word chubby to describe fat children; husky or heavyset to describe fat men; and plump or curvy to describe fat women (the word curvy has a more positive connotation, implying that the woman has a nice, full, feminine body).
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.
Wrap a tape measure around your waist over your belly button. (Don't suck in your stomach!) In women, 35 inches or more is a sign of visceral fat. In men, it's 40 inches.
In general, if you suck in your belly, and pinch your skin, that will define your subcutaneous fat (i.e., what you can pinch), versus visceral fat (i.e., around the organs).
So, what exactly is hormonal belly? A hormonal belly is lower abdominal weight gain caused by an imbalance of hormones. Hormones help regulate many bodily functions such as our metabolism, sex drive, hunger and reproductive functions.
Gaining weight solely in your stomach may be the result of specific lifestyle choices. The two S's — stress and sugar — play a significant role in the size of your midsection. Certain medical conditions and hormonal changes can contribute to abdominal weight gain.
All of us have some amount of this fat, even if we are very fit and slim. A healthy amount of visceral fat in the average person is around 10%. A woman with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and a man who has a waist bigger than 40 inches are likely to have excess visceral fat.
A common reason for this insecurity and anxiety around baring your stomach on the beach or at the pool is 'abdominal panniculus' – the scientific name for stomach overhang that hangs down in front – like an apron of fat. This fatty tissue growth is not only uncomfortable and unsightly, but it is also a health risk.
Start with a mix of moderate and vigorous exercise to burn off menopausal weight gain. Your routine should include aerobic exercises like swimming, walking, bicycling, and running, as well as resistance or strength training. “What you want to employ now is high-intensity interval training (HIIT),” Dr. Peeke says.
Cut down on sugar and alcohol – these are two key areas to focus on if you want to reduce stomach fat as they can cause bloating. Get moving regularly – daily exercise is a great way to shift tummy fat. A regular walk or jog, a workout or two from our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge app are all great options.
Many women also notice an increase in belly fat as they get older — even if they aren't gaining weight. This is likely due to a decreasing level of estrogen, which appears to influence where fat is distributed in the body.
Pooch bellies occur when the lower abs and pelvic floor do not coordinate well together, causing the abdominal viscera to sit downward and forward. Certain body structures have a natural tendency for the abdominal contents to sit in this area.