This means that there is a layer of fat just under the skin which is distributed through much of the body. Men tend to have less of this layer of subcutaneous fat and instead their fat cells tend to accumulate more in the abdomen.
If you eat too much and exercise too little, you're likely to pack on excess pounds — including belly fat. Getting older plays a role too. As you age, you lose muscle — especially if you're not physically active.
Men have a higher tendency to accumulate abdominal visceral fat compared to pre-menopausal women. The accumulation of abdominal visceral fat in men, which is a strong independent predictor of mortality, is mainly due to the higher dietary fat uptake by their abdominal visceral fat.
As levels of testosterone start to decrease naturally from about the age of 30 onwards this encourages the body to store fat – particularly around the belly, where it not only is it unwelcome from a looks standpoint but can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
That hardness is due to an abundance of fat deep in the abdominal cavity around the internal organs, otherwise known as visceral fat. Men are particularly vulnerable to accumulating excess visceral fat, because genetically men are predisposed to storing excess fat in the midsection.
Because men have a large omentum — the protective layer of fat wrapped around the intestines — they tend to gain weight more rapidly in their midsection than anywhere else. Weak abdominal muscles combined with extra mass within the abdomen pushing outward results in the rotund beer belly look for men.
Men often gain weight steadily starting at around age 30 and continuing until roughly age 55. Throughout life, a man's excess weight tends to be carried as belly fat, which increases his risk of heart disease and other conditions.
The amount of body fat goes up steadily after age 30. Older people may have almost one third more fat compared to when they were younger. Fat tissue builds up toward the center of the body, including around the internal organs.
As many men age their testosterone levels tend to decrease and they tend to gain more belly fat. Body fat has an enzyme called aromatase that converts testosterone into estrogens. When someone has higher estrogen levels in their body, their hormonal system tells the body to slow down its production of testosterone.
Excess belly fat can be dangerous because it surrounds internal organs and puts you at greater risk for developing several kinds of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and liver problems.
One: married couples spent more time slumped on the sofa watching television and eating large meals together than single people. And two: their sex lives dwindled over a period of time so they did not get enough aerobic exercise to burn off all those extra calories they were consuming.
Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness. This problem also can be caused by: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem)
The hard belly is caused by the build-up of visceral fat, a soft belly is caused by subcutaneous fat, which is located near to your skin. Subcutaneous fat makes your belly jiggly, unlike the visceral fat. One cause behind the build-up of visceral fat could be your genetics.
It may be the regular consumption of alcohol, stress, hormones, bad posture, recent pregnancy, bloating, or others. If you are determined to flatten your belly, you should exercise more and stick to a healthy diet.
Despite variation in lifestyle and environment, first signs of human facial aging show between the ages of 20–30 years.
Men often gain weight until about age 55, and then begin to lose weight later in life. This may be related to a drop in the male sex hormone testosterone. Women usually gain weight until age 65, and then begin to lose weight.
Researchers with Duke University's School of Medicine suggest that physical decline begins in the decade of the 50s and worsens as we age, especially for those who don't exercise.
The CDC's numbers show that much of the increase is concentrated in the 20s, for men and women. The average man in his 20s weighs around 185 pounds, according to the CDC. But by his 30s, he's closer to 200 pounds.
As men age, their levels of testosterone and human growth hormone wane, making it much tougher to burn calories and build muscle. As muscle mass deteriorates, it's replaced by new layers of fat, especially around the waist and stomach: middle-age spread.
As a result, losing belly fat often takes hard work, especially if you're in your 40s or older. That's because your hormones and your belly fat affect each other, and as your hormone levels change during middle age, fat around your midsection tends to accumulate faster than it does in other areas.
So consuming extra calories through drinking can lead to weight gain. Typically, men tend to show weight gain around their middle3,4, which is how the term 'beer belly' came about.
Can Exercise Eliminate Your Beer Belly? Doing sit-ups, crunches, or other abdominal exercises will strengthen your core muscles and help you hold in your belly fat, but won't eliminate it. The only way to lose belly fat (or any kind of fat) is to lose weight.