Budging That Belly

A bulging waistline is more than a vanity issue – those extra centimetres can have a major impact on your long- term health. So what can you do to target and trim down abdominal fat? We sort the facts from the furphies

When you can’t do up the zip up on last year’s pants and your favourite jacket won’t meet across your middle, it’s a sure sign that you’ve put on weight around the waist. While you will have gained weight all over, it’s the extra belly fat that will be worrying your doctor. Why all the fuss? Well, developing abdominal fat is a giveaway sign that you’re accumulating life-threatening visceral fat in your abdomen. Its dangers have spawned an entire industry dedicated to helping us trim our tummies with the aid of ‘miracle’ diets, fat-blasting pills and supplements, plus the latest so-called gut-stripping exercise equipment.

With so many conflicting (and sometimes dubious) claims on how best to lose belly fat, it’s hard to know where to start. But don’t let that put you off – taking action on abdominal fat will bring you major benefits.

Why is belly fat dangerous?