We've all seen the adverts. 'This one, simple trick will blitz the blubber around your belly'; "Turn your body into a furnace and burn off your spare tyre with this diet hack'; 'Get Adonis abs by doing this five-minute workout'. But exactly how sceptical of their claims should we be? What does science actually tell us about getting rid of belly fat?
Well, the first thing to say is that not all fat is bad. To maintain good health, it's critical that our bodies can store excess energy, and they do this using fat. Fat tissue is also structurally important in our bodies - it helps keep us warm through insulation and it cushions the palms of our hands, the soles of our feet and, yes, our bottoms. The fat just under our skin, known as subcutaneous fat and often found on the hips and buttocks, can be healthy. Ultimately, without any fat storage in our bodies, we would be unwell and very uncomfortable.
That said, losing excess belly fat is a good idea. A sizeable gut could indicate a person is carrying a large amount of 'deep' abdominal fat, known as visceral fat, which can surround our organs and make us more likely to be ill. Visceral fat is more insulin-resistant than other fat tissue meaning it's worse at absorbing blood glucose. It's also more linked to inflammation and is more likely to release fats into the blood in response to stress hormones, increasing a person's risk of metabolic disease.
There are various ways to see if your levels of visceral fat are high, but the easiest is to check your waist-hip ratio.
Using a tape measure, measure the widest part of your hips and the narrowest part of your waist, then divide the your waist measurement by your hip measurement. According to the World Health Organization, the healthy ratios for men and women are below 1 and 0.85 respectively (the difference is due to women having broader hips).
READY, AIM...
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 2024-Ausgabe von BBC Science Focus.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 2024-Ausgabe von BBC Science Focus.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?
The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.
IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?
A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.
WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?
The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.
WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?
The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.
THE LUNGFISH
In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.
ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?
The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.
Should we scrap daylight saving time?
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS
SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS
MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION
The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?
