You may be surprised to find out that various factors including genetic, physical and mental can all be causes for belly fat. Belly fat or abdominal fat is one of the most common types of obesity. It is also known as visceral fat, spare tire or beer belly. Belly fat is different from the subcutaneous fat that surrounds our bodies. Belly fat is equally common in men and women.
Below are some of what causes belly fat:
Genetics - Yes, it can be in your genes. There different types of body structure, the apple body and the pear body. In the pear shaped body structure, fat accumulation is in the lower parts of the body. In the apple shaped body structure, fat is stored in the abdomen and middle portion of the body. Most people have the apple shaped body structure. People that have parents with apple shaped body structure are more likely to develop belly fat.
Lack of exercise - Lack of physical activity while consuming excess calories, can lead to obesity and can cause accumulation of belly fat.
Slow metabolism - Metabolism rate is a major contributing factor in belly fat. A slower metabolism causes fewer calories to be burned and excess accumulation of fats. Metabolism rates also tend to slow as we age.
Stress - According to studies, belly fat can be caused by stress. When we are stressed our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. This causes the liver to release an excess of sugar, the result of which makes us hungrier and we tend to eat more.
Menopause - Menopause can be cause for belly fat in women as their bodies may begin to store more fat.
As you can see, there are a number of reasons for belly fat besides just plain overeating. Understanding what actually causes belly fat can help with plans to decrease it.
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