Weight Management in Men- Belly Fat is NO LAUGHING MATTER

It seems that health matters in men creep up on them. Before they know it, they are faced with issues like a "beer gut" (as it is often joked). But extra belly fat in men (or anyone) is really no laughing matter. Belly fat is actually hazardous.

You may ask why belly fat is such a risk?


People gain weight in many areas, but when fat is accumulating around the waistline, can cause many diseases, even in a healthy person.

Men who have large amounts of belly fat are at higher risk of having:
* heart disease
* high blood pressure
* stroke
* Type 2 diabetes
* insulin resistance
* some cancers
* high triglycerides
* low levels of HDLs
* metabolic syndrome
* sleep apnea

Did you know that belly fat in men also increases estrogen levels? Which means the testosterone levels are low, and there is an increased chance of prostate cancer!

A good marker for gauging whether you have too much belly fat is waist size. For men, if the waist size is greater than 40 inches, they are at highest risk.

How to measure waistline:

- Use a tape measure and measure around the bare abdomen just above the hipbone
- The tape measure should be snug, but not push into the skin
- Tape measure needs to be level all the way around
- Do suck in the belly when measuring!


As men age, they lose muscle mass. Muscle mass declines slowly, and so they don't notice it unless they are aware. It is better for men to limit calories and to be physically active to avoid weight gain. Lifestyle has more affect on a man's weight than genes.
So speaking of the "beer belly," you may wonder if men really do get a gut from beer.The truth is, beer is not the only culprit. Too much alcohol CAN increase belly fat because of the excess calories.

So how does one decrease belly fat? Reduce calories. You can do this by having smaller portions at meals, and replace bad foods with healthier choices to get the most benefits with fewer calories. Increase physical activity (moderate aerobic exercise several times per week will give the best results. Doing exercise such as sit-ups will make abdominal muscles stronger, but does not actually reduce belly fat).
Reducing belly fat takes time and effort, but just decreasing weight by a few pounds can do wonders for a man's life and health!