Fat belly or fat tummy or excess belly fat is something many people don’t like. They would do anything to lose their fat belly. Have you taken the time to identify the health risks of belly fat?
The drive to lose belly fat for most people is to have a sexy or gorgeous look.
Whilst that is important, it does not override the health value of losing belly fat. Here are the main five health risks of belly fat you must know.
4 Health Risks of Belly Fat
- Excess belly fat increases the risk of developing a fatty liver
- Excess belly fat increases the risk of developing Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Excess belly fat heightens the risk of hypertension and stroke
- Excess belly fat is a risk factor for dementia
Belly fat increases the risk of developing a fatty liver
Excess fat belly which is a sign of obesity is directly associated with an unhealthy liver (fatty liver).
Medically, this does not mean that your liver is fat/big, but has a high concentration of unhealthy fats.
A fatty liver is a biochemical indicator of both lipid and metabolic disorders.
Having a fatty liver means the liver has a high level of Very Density lipoproteins (VLDL) which is a type of unhealthy fat.
VLDL contributes to high levels of triglycerides. The two, VLDL and triglycerides are triggers of metabolic abnormalities that heighten the risk of developing hypertension and ultimately cause premature deaths.
Biochemically, fats are metabolized in the liver. Thus, excess fats end up being stored there, which should not be the case. The storage of excess fats in the liver causes the development of a fatty liver.
A fat belly increases the degree of fat metabolism in the liver and consequently causes a fatty liver.
That is why cutting your belly fat is highly recommended.
Belly fat increases the risk of developing Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
Insulin acts as the body’s glucose meter/sensor. Upon feeding on carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, the body converts them into glucose which is the source of energy.
Insulin helps detect high levels of glucose in the blood so that the glucose can be stored in muscle, liver, and fat cells.
Therefore, insulin acts as the glucose sensor. When glucose levels rise, insulin is produced by the pancreas to limit further production and trigger the storage of excess glucose.
How are belly fat and associated. Fats in the belly cause the sensitivity of insulin to decline (insulin resistance). This means the body can no longer detect a rise in glucose levels in the blood. Secondly, the high glucose in the blood cannot be stored as expected.
The result is excess glucose/sugar in the blood which now leads to type 2 diabetes.
Belly fat heightens the risk of hypertension and stroke
Excess belly fats are also associated with increased risks of hypertension and stroke. As described earlier, belly fats cause a rise in VLDL, triglycerides and Low-density cholesterol (LDL)-cholesterol which are waxy in nature and they clog heart vessels.
When they clog heart vessels, it becomes harder for the heart to pump blood and that contributes to a rise in pressure (hypertension).
Besides, their waxy nature increases the risk of blood clots which is a risk factor for stroke.
Belly fat is a risk factor for dementia
Similarly, the waxy nature of LDL-cholesterol and VLDL when they clog blood vessels has the risk of limiting the flow of blood to the brain. This can cause dementia.
In fact, they heighten the risk of dementia by 145%.
Losing belly fat should be your priority if you want to minimize the risk of developing these medical conditions.
Stay safe, over to you.