How to remove belly fat?

Doctors are finding a link between fat deposits around and above the waist, common in men and older women, and heart disease, as well as diabetes, hypertension, strokes and an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Research conducted at the University of South Florida in Tampa found that women with breast cancer were 45 percent more likely to have deep abdominal fat deposits than those without the disease. And a study of pairs of identical twins conducted at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (USA) showed that the brother, who became overweight as an adult, had significantly more prerequisites for the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

Most of us think that if we grab two centimeters of fat when we pinch ourselves, we should stop eating ice cream. But the fat that can be grabbed with your fingers, that is, located directly under the skin, is actually harmless. Much more serious problems arise from visceral fat, which is deposited around vital internal organs such as the intestines and liver.

"The health threat is determined not by how much excess fat you have, but by where it is concentrated," says Dr. Arthur Frank, medical director of the Obesity Program at George Washington University. How do you know if you need to lose belly fat without resorting to expensive scans or magnetic resonance imaging? There is a simple and correct way: calculate the ratio of your waist to your hips. Divide your waist circumference (at its thinnest point) by your hip circumference (at its widest point). For a person with a waist size of 68.5 centimeters and a hip size of 98 centimeters, this coefficient is 0.7. Washington-based obesity specialist Dr. Uzin Callaway says that if the ratio is above 0.80 for women and 0.95 for men, they should lose their belly.

Despite all the dangers, many people find that getting rid of excess belly fat is very easy - if you separate the myths from the facts. Here are some tips to help you succeed where many fail:

1. Remember, men and women lose weight differently. Women have to put in a lot more effort than they expect.

2. Find out the truth about low-fat foods. There is no one “right” diet for everyone.

3. Exercise at your own pace. For beginners, it is important to just start moving.

4. Pay attention to bad habits. Smoking and alcohol can lead to double trouble.

5. Don't make excuses for yourself. They only harm your health. You can reduce your waist size at any age.

So throw away all the excuses, get out of your chair and take care of your waistline - and your health!