A diet high in sugar and fat, lack of exercise and constant stress cause belly fat to accumulate.
Belly fat is divided into two types: visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Subcutaneous fat can protect muscles and bones from external impacts such as falls and collisions. Visceral fat is stored in the abdominal cavity, located near some important organs such as the liver and stomach; it is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Below are the causes of belly fat.
Wrong diet
The body absorbs more calories than it burns over a period of time, causing weight gain and more belly fat. Specifically, sugary, processed foods are common causes of excess weight, slowing down metabolism, hindering weight loss efforts. Foods containing trans fats can cause inflammation, leading to obesity. The diet should limit fast foods and baked goods such as muffins and crackers.
The American Heart Association recommends that everyone replace trans fats with healthy whole grains, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats.
Consuming a lot of sugary drinks like soda and energy drinks is linked to increased visceral fat in the abdomen. Drinking water, prioritizing unsweetened coffee and tea, and whole foods are better.
Eating foods containing protein helps promote weight loss by increasing feelings of fullness. This is because the body takes longer to digest protein than other macronutrients. Protein also aids in muscle repair and growth, boosts metabolism, and burns more calories at rest. People who consume more protein are less likely to have excess belly fat.
Belly fat increases the risk of many chronic diseases. Photo: Freepik
Little exercise
In addition to poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle can also have negative effects on health. Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for obesity and increased body fat. Exercising 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, has many benefits.
Drink a lot of alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol causes many health problems such as inflammation, cirrhosis, and sleep problems. Alcohol contains a lot of calories (7 calories per gram), drinking too much can lead to lack of alertness, consuming more foods with less nutrients. Drinks can change the hormones related to hunger and satiety. Alcohol also reduces fat oxidation, thereby storing fat.
Stress
When stressed, the adrenal glands secrete a lot of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol levels also increase when overworked or sleep deprived. Excess of this hormone causes endocrine disorders, making the body lose its ability to control belly fat and gain weight. Many people often turn to food to relieve stress.
Le Nguyen (According to Medicalnewstoday )
| Readers ask questions about nutrition here for doctors to answer |
Source link
Comment (0)