What are the health risks of belly fat?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:When it comes to belly fat, if you weren't already obsessed with not fitting into your favorite jeans, there's more to be concerned about than aesthetics.
Visceral fat surrounds organs, and excess visceral fat is linked to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. New research has also revealed that belly fat is a risk factor for bone loss; visceral fat adds fat to bone marrow and reduces bone mineral density.Helpful? 50 people found this helpfulWhen it comes to belly fat, if you weren't already obsessed with not fitting into your favorite jeans, there's more to be concerned about than aesthetics.Visceral fat surrounds organs, and excess visceral fat is linked to type 2 diabetes and heart... More -
Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Belly fat increases LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, spikes blood sugar and insulin resistance, and increases inflammation and blood pressure. Plus, extra belly fat increases the risk of osteoarthritis, prostate cancer, and breast cancer, and ups the odds for dementia by 80%.Belly fat increases LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, spikes blood sugar and insulin resistance, and increases inflammation and blood pressure. Plus, extra belly fat increases the risk of osteoarthritis, prostate cancer, and breast cancer,... More -
Eric Olsen answered:Belly fat, or fat stored around the midsection, appears to be linked to the greatest health risks of all, including a much higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, when compared with the same amount of fat distributed around the thighs and buttocks. This may be one of the reasons men -- who are more likely than women to store fat around the midsection -- tend to have more heart disease at a younger age and overall shorter life spans.
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Belly fat, or fat stored around the midsection, appears to be linked to the greatest health risks of all, including a much higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, when compared with the same amount of fat distributed around the thighs and... More -
Belly fat in particular is linked with some of the most prevalent and costly medical problems seen in daily practice. Excess belly fat alone is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, cancer, and early death. In combination with the metabolic syndrome, it further increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.Belly fat in particular is linked with some of the most prevalent and costly medical problems seen in daily practice. Excess belly fat alone is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, gallbladder disease,... More
