Belly Fat In Men: Why It’s More Dangerous Than Ever

(BlackDoctor.org) — Two-thirds of African American men are over weight or obese. But this is one case where following the crowd is not the best idea, because extra weight—especially belly fat—can be risky. And while women often put on extra pounds in the hips, thighs and legs, men are much more likely to gain belly fat.

Why You Need to Lose It

Although the link between belly fat and health is not entirely clear, experts do know that people with a lot of belly fat are at higher risk of health problems than are people who accumulate fat in other areas—and men are more likely than women to put on weight around the waist.

You may think that belly fat is limited to the stuff out front that you can grab with your hand—but it’s the fat you can’t see that’s really a cause for concern. Visceral fat lies deeper inside the abdomen, surrounding the abdominal organs.

Gaining this type of fat has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health problems. Subcutaneous fat, located between the skin and the abdominal wall, is more visible but also less likely to be a health risk.

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