That’s “belly” bad indeed: Carrying more weight around your abdomen makes you more likely to develop diabetes

Now you have one more reason to banish belly fat than just looking good in photos you and your friends upload in social media. More than any kind of fat, the kind that deposits itself deep in your abdomen increases your risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

A new study at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that abdominal fat raises the production of DPP4 (an enzyme) which travels through the bloodstream, and causes inflammation. The researchers have good news, though. Reducing belly fat could enhance insulin resistance.

Dr. Ahmed A Hasan, program director of The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute‘s Atherothrombosis & Coronary Artery Disease Branch, has high hopes for the study, saying that it could lead to a clinical trial to see if scientists can develop a new treatment approach that could enhance insulin resistance in diabetics.

Losing that offensive belly fat takes time. But you can start now, with these healthy tips:

• Shun sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks — Many studies show that eating too much sugar can increase the fat in the belly and liver. This, in turn, causes insulin resistance and other metabolic problems. Liquid sugar, such as those found in sodas, is worse. The brain can’t “register” liquid calories the same way it can the solid variety, so you end up consuming more calories. Studies reveal that obesity levels in children can rise by as much as 60 percent every time they take sugary beverages like sodas, fruit juices and others.
• Take more protein — A study revealed that protein intake can reduce and even banish belly fat. Still another study linked protein to a marked reduction in the risk of developing belly fat over a period of five years. Thus, it pays to eat more high-protein foods like whole eggs, fish, seafood, legumes, and nuts.
• Cut down on carbs — Several studies prove that this curbs appetite and reduces weight. Low-carb meals also reduce water weight and makes people shed unwanted pounds as fast as one to two days after. Other studies comparing low-carb and low-fat diets, reveal that the former targets fat in the belly, liver, and areas around the organs. Staying away from refined carbs like sugar, candy, white bread and others is enough, especially if you take a lot of protein.

You gain a lot and lose nothing by letting go of that dangerous belly fat. Not only that: You can start wearing those clothes and that bikini you’ve kept hidden in your closet for so long. That’s something to look forward to, indeed.

Sources include:

Newsroom.CUMC.Columbia.edu

Healthline.com