Hunger gains

Reconnecting with our body's signals is a way to reduce overeating and maximise health.

- Jennifer Bowden

Question:

I am permanently in a wheelchair and wonder if there are dietary techniques to help me from gaining weight. I use my arms a lot, but it is my waist/hip area I would like to control.

Answer:

Weight gain around the waistline may seem merely a cosmetic concern, but because so-called belly fat is often more than skin deep, abdominal fat has a dark side.

Subcutaneous fat is the padding located just below our skin and is not of particular concern from a health perspective. It’s the visceral fat that lies deep inside the abdomen – large fat deposits around our internal organs – that pose a significant health risk.

When excessive amounts of visceral fat accumulate, they produce hormones and other compounds that increase blood pressure, alter cholesterol levels and impair our insulin usage (leading to insulin resistance), thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and more.