What is a beer belly?
A beer belly is a buildup of fat in the center of the body, just above the waist. A person with a large beer belly will often have relatively thin legs and arms, giving them a distinctive shape. Contrary to the name, a beer belly does not develop as a result of drinking beer, but from intake combined with a sedentary lifestyle. Since beer contains calories and is often consumed with other high calorie foods in a sedentary environment, it has become associated with the formation of obesity in the center of the body.
Beer bellies develop more often in men
A beer belly develops the same way any build up of fat does: calories taken in that are not burned for energy are stored in the body as fat for later use. Since people who develop beer bellies normally have low physical activity, the fat stored is never used, so further calorie intake accumulates as fat. Beer bellies are more prevalent in men than women because men's bodies tend to deposit more fat in the belly, while women's bodies spread fat around to the hips, arms, chest and waist. It has surmised that beer may contribute to a beer belly if the liver is enlarged due to excessive alcohol consumption. Stress has also been linked with the formation of beer bellies.
Getting rid of a beer belly
Since beer bellies are the result of a buildup of fat, getting rid of one involves the same steps that any person wishing to lose weight should take. The primary way to combat a beer belly is to reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity to the point where the amount of calories burned in a day exceeds the number of calories eaten. The more calories burned, and the less taken in, the faster fat will burn, and the quicker a beer belly will shrink. It is a common misconception that when certain parts of the body are covered in fat, that working out the muscles beneath that area will reduce the amount of fat the most quickly. This is not true. Doing sit ups will aid with reducing a beer belly only insofar as they burn calories. Aerobic activity, such as walking, running, and swimming are the most effective for burning calories for an extended period of time. For those with very high calorie intake, simply curbing eating through a diet can cause weight loss, but a combination of dieting and exercise is the most efficient way to lose weight.
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