Factors like ageing, diet, and physical activity affect belly fat and can cause many diseases
While you may have tried everything – exercise, diet control, and even conditioned your mind to be healthy – there are times when you feel like giving up. It happens mostly when you are not able to lose the stubborn belly fat, which, according to doctors, is the reason for many deadly diseases.
According to doctors, factors like ageing, diet, and physical activity affect belly fat. Too much around your waist increases your risk of obesity-related conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension or high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease.
Here's why you may not be losing abdominal fat.
Lack of magnesium in your body
According to experts, your body needs magnesium for more than 300 chemical reactions—which include keeping the heartbeat steady and regulating blood sugar levels. However, it is also instrumental in aiding weight loss and losing abdominal fat.
Studies say higher magnesium intake is associated with lower levels of fasting glucose and insulin, which are markers related to fat and weight gain and reducing fluid retention to reduce bloating. And so, you need to eat more magnesium-rich foods like green vegetables, beans, and nuts, or take a magnesium supplement, after discussing it with your doctor.
Not sleeping enough
Most people today – especially youngsters – are not getting enough sleep. Studies say a lack of regulated and uninterrupted sleeping can have serious consequences — especially when you are trying to lose weight. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, if you sleep less than five hours every night, you are 32 per cent more likely to experience major weight gain.
And so, aim to have a shut eye for at least 8-9 hours daily. Remove distracting electronics from the bedroom, avoid drinking coffee or tea in the evenings, and keep your room cool.
Eating too much salt
Many times, you may not realise, but if you feel bloated after a salty meal, it is time to introspect. Excess salt leads water to move from your bloodstream into your skin – making you look puffy. According to experts, you must not consume more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily, and so, even if you are not pouring salt into food, you may be getting it from other sources like packaged foods, deli meats, and even some dairy products like cottage cheese.
And so, rather than adding salt to your meals, boost flavour with spices and herbs like cinnamon, chilli powder, cumin, and ginger – all of which are naturally salty and have immense health benefits.
You don't have strong abs
While you may be exercising daily and thinking you are fit, that may not be the case with your body. Feeling puffy around your middle is proof that even though you may not be overweight, your weak ab muscles can be the reason behind belly fat. According to experts, slouching while sitting and standing leads to this.
And so, you must focus on cranking out hundreds of sit-ups daily and work on obliques and transversus abdominis to help tighten your midsection.
Not able to manage stress
In today's world, everyone is stressed. It not only causes the production of cortisol – also referred to as the stress hormone – but when prolonged or chronic, it leads to weight gain. Despite doing everything right, if you are not able to budge that belly fat, take a hard look at your stress levels.
Since no one likes to be stressed, it is important to work towards reducing it by taking measures like meditation and deep breathing exercises and cutting down on caffeine.
