Belly fat is a common issue faced by people of different age groups, majorly in adults who have very less physical activity level.
Excess belly fat can increase the risk of:
• Heart disease
• Heart attacks
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Dementia
Fat cells (also called adipocytes or lipocytes) are the cells dedicated to storing excess calories in the form of fat, this helps supply energy to the body when we don't provide food to our body. These fat cells are important for prehistoric men as they helped them carry out their daily routine. But now the fat continues to accumulate due to our slowing metabolism, genetic makeup, restricted activity, and lifestyle.
It is stored in two locations one is Subcutaneous -this lies just under the skin and visible while the other, more dangerous one is the Visceral Fat. It is located inside the abdominal cavity and not seen through physical appearance.
The visceral fat is unlike the subcutaneous fat deposits you see on the outside of your body as it plays a role in your functioning of hormones. Also called "active fat," visceral fat affects hormones by secreting a protein which leads to increased resistance to insulin. This insulin resistance boosts your risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, excess cholesterol, some cancers, and Alzheimer's disease.
One of the ways to keep your belly fat in check is by simply measuring your belly circumference with a soft measuring tape. It should not exceed 35 inches (89 centimetres) for women and 40 inches (102 centimetres) for men is not a good indication.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/the-risks-of-belly-fat#2
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323309#why-is-it-dangerous
https://www.eatthis.com/belly-fat-dangerous/
