In a nation where there are so many massively overweight people wobbling around it’s easy to feel okay if you just a little bit overweight.
“At least I’m not THAT fat,” right?
Not so fast. Don’t go getting too comfortable just yet.
Regardless of whether you have just a little belly pooch or if your shape has taken on whale-like proportions, if you’re carrying around extra pounds in you midsection, you’re putting your life on the line every time you reach for one more French fry.
The stark reality is that overweight people die more quickly than people of normal weight, even if it’s just by a few extra pounds.
By studying the data of nearly 1.5 million people involved in 19 studies for up to 28 years, the results revealed that people with the lowest death risk had a BMI between 22.5 and 24.9. Once you hit it BMI of 25 you’ve hit the overweight mark. And once you’re in the overweight category, you’re 13% more likely to die.
What’s even more shocking is that for every five-point increase the death risk also increased nearly a third. And if you have a BMI of 30 to 34.9, the risk climbs even higher - up to 44%. Those who are severely obese, which means a BMI of 35 to 39.9, the increased risk of death rose to 88%.
Most of the other factors associated with increased death risk such as smoking or pre-existing heart or cancer risk were excluded. In other words it’s the extra weight that is most likely to do you in.
More dangers of belly fat. Of all the fat you can have on your body, belly fat presents the greatest risk when it comes to your health. Fat inside the abdominal cavity wraps around internal organs, including the heart. Not only does this harm the blood vessel lining, but it also secretes harmful substances that cause all kinds of health problems. In addition to heart disease, belly fat has been linked to the following conditions:
Cancer. Higher percentages of belly fat in both men and women mean a greater likelihood of developing several types of cancers, including breast, colon, and kidney cancer.
Lung disease. People who have higher stores of belly fat are more likely to have reduced lung function. This is probably because of the inflammatory substances belly fat secretes. It can damage the lungs.
Dementia. One study showed that people with excess belly fat, even if they were of normal weight, had a 1.8 times higher risk of developing dementia.
Diabetes. Carrying around belly fat can lead to insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes.
Migraines. Women who carry more fat in their belly are 30% more likely to suffer from migraines than their thinner sisters.
The extra inches around your waistline really do count when it comes to your long-term health. Some experts believe that women should have a waist size of 35 inches or less and men should aim for 40 inches or less. Even small increases above these numbers can put you at risk for developing serious diseases.
Go ahead and measure your waist just below your navel and see where you stand. Then do everything you can to make sure you follow a sensible diet and exercise program. Even if you’re not overweight, but you have belly fat, you’re putting yourselves at risk for cancer, dementia, heart disease, and more.
