Causes of belly fat in men and other health issues

The causes of belly fat in men can be wide-ranging. The obvious factors will include lifestyle choices like drinking alcohol and sedentary living. Some of the hidden factors of male obesity can be genetic and even hormonal. Males are more likely than women to find themselves a little hefty at the waist due to the fact that male stress and sex hormones can actually contribute to an increased storage of fat at the abdomen.

Michael Jensen, who is an endocrinology specialist with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says that those males with an increased girth at their waist can be subject to an increased risk of a host of unfortunate health problems. According to Jensen, having a larger girth around your mid-section can lead to an increased risk of:

• Sleep apnea
• Metabolic syndrome
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Lower levels of good cholesterol, known as HDL, or high-density lipoprotein
• High triglycerides
• Insulin resistance
• Certain forms of cancer
• Type 2 diabetes

With a larger mid-section, men are more likely to see potential health issues from this list, and more. In order for men to cut down on being overweight, let’s check out ways in which certain foods or genetic factors can contribute to the expansion of one’s waist, and thus, an increased risk for serious health problems down the line.

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Age Factors

As you grow older, one of the unfortunate side-effects is the loss of muscle. Those who aren’t physically active in their later years (and before), can lose even more muscle as they age. This is an important factor for weight gain due to the fact that the loss of muscle will actually slow the rate in which you burn calories, thus usually resulting in an increased girth around the waist when other factors are added into the mix (i.e.: increased food and alcohol consumption, less exercise, etc.). Thus, it is important to stay physically fit, to exercise regularly, and/or limit your daily overall intake of calories.

Genetic Factors

Many males might not want to hear this, but they may have a genetic disposition towards carrying more heft around the stomach. If your parents were on the heavy side, there can be a correlation with your own battles against weight gain. With this being said, though, the problem of obesity will more than likely be associated with current lifestyle choices.

Lifestyle

Burgers, butter, beer, alcohol consumption, ribs, cheeses, and more, may sound delicious. They, unfortunately, are a main cause of weight gain in males. Sitting around watching TV all day can be a contributing factor, as well. To combat this, do your best to drink in moderation, which means no more than 2 drinks per day.

Reduce calories in your daily diet. Replace certain “problem” foods with healthier food substitutes that contain less calories. Try not to eat as much and increase your physical activity, as well. This means approximately 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercise. Or, you can work through 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic exercise, in addition to strength training to build muscle.

If you can’t adhere to these practices, just try to add exercise into your life through creative means. Take the stairs at work, walk the dog on a daily basis, play with your kids, or try to add a team sport to your weekly routine. In order to get rid of excess body fat, it’s important to stick with a regular, healthy diet, in addition to regular physical exertion. These are the keys to keeping the
causes of belly fat in men from rearing their ugly head.

Resources:

Livestrong: What Causes Belly Fat in Men?

Mayo Clinic: Belly Fat in Men: Why Weight Loss Matters.

Above photo attributed to FBellon