Is belly fat dangerous for heart health?Every year on World Obesity Day, a question arises again: Is weight alone the real problem? For a long time, body weight and BMI were considered most important to measure people’s health. But now many researches show that more important than the amount of fat in the body is where it is deposited. The weighing machine cannot tell whether there is more muscle or fat in the body and it cannot also show whether fat is accumulated around the internal organs or not.

What is belly fat?

Fat accumulating around the abdomen, commonly known as belly fat, can increase the risk of heart diseases. This happens even in people whose weight appears normal. Actually, not every type of fat in the body behaves the same. Fat accumulated around the hips and thighs is considered less harmful, but fat accumulated in the inner part of the stomach, around the liver, pancreas and intestines can be more dangerous for the body.

What is the problem?

This internal fat releases chemicals that increase inflammation in the body, affects the way insulin works, increases blood pressure and can disturb the balance of cholesterol. Dr Varun Bansal told TOI that when it comes to heart health, it is not just the weight but the distribution of fat in the body that is more important. Increasing fat, especially around the abdomen, can increase the risk of heart attack and coronary artery disease.

What is the problem in India?

In India this problem is considered more serious. According to the INDIAB study of the Indian Council of Medical Research, despite being of normal weight, many Indians were found to have increased waist circumference, as well as high blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure. This condition is called normal weight obesity or metabolic obesity. That means a person may look thin, but the fat accumulated inside the stomach can become a threat to the heart.

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According to experts, waist circumference is considered an important indicator for Indians. Waist should be less than 90 centimeters in men and less than 80 centimeters in women. It is also very easy to measure, it can be measured by placing a tape around the navel while standing straight and exhaling normally.

How can we reduce this?

Crash diet is not always the right solution to reduce belly fat, because it can also lead to loss of muscles. Instead, regular exercise, especially strength training, eating adequate protein, less processed carbohydrates, adequate sleep and controlling stress are considered more effective methods.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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Why Physical Inactivity Is Increasing Worldwide: The world today is facing a serious and silent epidemic of obesity and lack of physical activity. According to the latest data, about 31 percent of adults around the world i.e. about 1.8 billion people are not able to do necessary physical activities. This figure is not just a number, but an indication of increasing heart attacks, diabetes and cancer in the coming years. It is a matter of concern that between 2010 and 2022, physical inactivity has increased by about 5 percent and if the same pace continues, this figure may reach 35 percent by 2030.

According to the World Health Organization, an adult should do at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week. But a large part of the world is far behind this target. Its direct impact is coming in the form of increasing cases of diseases like heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, dementia and breast and colon cancer.

Situation serious in India also

The situation in India is also very worrying. Obesity has increased rapidly in the country in the last two decades, but it has not been discussed seriously. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, almost every fourth adult in India is obese. This is the reason why weight gain and related diseases are now becoming a silent killer for India. If we look at the state-by-state figures, in some places the obesity rate is 8 percent, while in some places it has reached 50 percent. In cities as well as villages, both men and women are vulnerable to it. According to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research, crores of people in the country are suffering from problems like abdominal obesity, general obesity and high cholesterol.

The number of overweight and obese people in India has doubled in the last 15 years, whereas it has increased three times in the last 30 years. The most scary thing is that more than 1.44 crore children in India are suffering from obesity, due to which the health crisis may worsen in future.

What do experts say?

According to doctors, obesity is not just a problem of weight gain. This increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea and many types of cancer. Especially the fat accumulated around the stomach is considered the most dangerous. Our changing lifestyle and eating habits are the major reasons behind this increasing problem. Urbanization, long sitting hours, less physical exertion and increasing consumption of processed and fast food have worsened the situation. According to WHO, about half the population in India does not do enough exercise. The Covid pandemic also worsened this situation, when people’s physical activity decreased and screen time increased.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator