JUNE 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 43
Men with belly fat may see their growing stomachs as a chiefly cosmetic concern that affects their appearance but not their overall health. But researchers
are learning a lot about belly fat, including just how dangerous it can be.
DROP THE DAD BOD
GET FIT: MEN’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS TIPS
Belly fat is no mere cosmetic concern.
Men with belly fat — what some affectionately call the “dad bod” — may see their growing
stomachs as a chiefly cosmetic concern that affects their appearance but not their overall
health. But researchers are learning a lot about belly fat, including just how dangerous it
can be.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology,
increasing stomach fat is associated with worsening heart disease risk factors, including
high blood pressure. Research into fat and its connection to heart disease is ongoing, but
evidence suggests that fat in the abdominal cavity is particularly dangerous.
Why is belly fat so dangerous? Belly fat does not include just subcutaneous fat, or the layer
of padding just below the skin. One of the biggest threats posed by belly fat is that it also
includes visceral fat that surrounds the internal organs. Harvard Medical School notes that
visceral fat lies deep inside the abdominal cavity, padding the space between a person’s
abdominal organs. This type of fat has been linked to metabolic disturbances and increased
risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
PRESS HEALTH
WHAT’S INSIDE continued on page 44
45 LIVE+WELL 46
COVID-19
ROUNDUP
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
