Table of contents:
- Why is belly fat more dangerous than other fats?
- What causes the body to accumulate fat in the stomach?
- 1. Excess weight
- 2.Aging (menopause)
- 3. Genetic
- 4. Lack of movement
- 5. Stress
- 6. Lack of sleep
- 7. Bad eating habits
Take a look at your stomach, are there any fat deposits there? Everyone can have belly fat, and thin people are no exception. Not surprisingly, many people are competing to lose belly fat and get a lean stomach, including thin people. All means are done, such as sports, to get it. However, do you know what causes fat accumulation in the stomach?
Why is belly fat more dangerous than other fats?
Belly fat or also known as visceral fat is fat that accumulates in the spaces between your organs, such as the stomach, liver, and intestines. This fat serves to protect the important organs in your stomach. However, too much visceral fat accumulation is also not good for health.
Why? Visceral fat produces toxins that can affect how the body works, such as cytokine compounds. Excessive release of cytokines can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers (such as colon, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer).
What causes the body to accumulate fat in the stomach?
Both obese and thin people can have excess visceral fat in their stomach. This is certainly not good for health. Several things can be the reason why you have excess belly or visceral fat.
1. Excess weight
The greater your weight, the more fat accumulates in your stomach. Being overweight is caused by more calories into the body than calories out. Eating too much and too little physical activity can lead to being overweight.
2.Aging (menopause)
The older you are, the less muscle mass you have and the more fat in your body, including belly fat. Reduced muscle mass makes your body burn fewer calories, making it more difficult for you to maintain a normal weight. This is why usually people who are older are easier to get fat.
In addition, the decrease in the hormone estrogen when entering menopause can also affect the distribution of fat in the body. The level of the hormone estrogen, which drops dramatically at menopause, can cause fat to be stored in the stomach, not in the hips or thighs. Some women may have more belly fat at this point. This could be due to your genetics as well as your menopausal age.
3. Genetic
How the body stores fat can be influenced by genetics. Genes that regulate cortisol and leptin, which regulate calorie intake and body weight, can be responsible for fat storage in the body.
4. Lack of movement
The calories intake must be the same as the calories out if you want to have a normal weight. If you have more calories than you take out, of course, you will gain weight. This can happen when you are less active. Research has shown that women who watch TV for more than three hours per day have a greater risk of abdominal obesity (almost twice) than women who watch TV for less than one hour per day.
5. Stress
When stressed, the body releases stress hormones (such as the hormone cortisol) to help the body deal with stress. However, the hormone cortisol can actually cause weight gain when it is overproduced in the body. When you overeat to deal with stress, these excess calories are more stored in the area around the stomach. This cannot be separated from the role of cortisol.
6. Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep can put you at increased risk of gaining excess weight, making you more likely to have a lot of belly fat. Apart from lack of sleep, sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, can also cause weight gain. This may be because when you are sleep deprived, you are more likely to eat unhealthy foods.
7. Bad eating habits
Eating lots of foods that are high in sugar and fat (especially trans fats) can cause excessive accumulation of belly fat. Low daily intake of protein and fiber can also lead to fat accumulation and weight gain. This is because adequate protein and fiber intake can help you control your appetite and improve digestion.
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