Not only is your stomach one of the more unsightly places that we tend to store fat, it’s also one of the most dangerous as well. New research from the Mayo Clinic has revealed that even walking around at an average weight with excess belly fat is more risky than someone who would qualify as obese but carries it in different places.
The study looked at a representative sample of the US population, which included more than 12,000 subjects ages 18 years and older. Through surveys, various facts were collected, including height, weight, waist and hip measurements, socioeconomic status, illnesses, and lab tests. That baseline data was matched to the National Death Index about 14 years later, and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer were excluded from the analysis.
Scientists found that subjects with normal BMIs who were apple shaped (a high waist-to-hip ratio) were more likely to die from any cause, even compared to those who were obese. In addition, this group was 2.75 times more likely to die from heart disease and twice as likely to die from any cause compared with those who had a normal BMI and a healthy waist-to-hip ratio.
Now, not all fat in your body is equal. The fat that lies just under your skin, the kind that you can grab with your hand, is called subcutaneous fat. But the fat stored in your stomach is called visceral fat, since it builds up in the spaces between or around your viscera, which is another word for your internal organs such as the stomach and intestines.
Cytokines
This visceral fat in your midsection creates toxins that affect the way your body works. One of the chemicals it creates is called cytokines, which boost your chances of heart disease and make you less sensitive to insulin, which can trigger diabetes.
The chemical, Cytokines, can also cause inflammation, which may lead to certain cancers, according to researchers from the American Cancer Society. In recent years, he says, scientists have uncovered links between belly fat and cancers of the colon, esophagus, and pancreas.
Regardless of your overall weight, having a large amount of belly fat can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, several types of cancer, and high blood pressure.
Age plays a roll as well. As you age, you lose muscle, especially if you don’t exercise. And loss of muscle mass will decrease the rate at which your body burns calories, so as you age the problem will become more prevalent if you’re not able to quickly grab the reigns and do your best to keep up with your health.
