Even those who seem to have a flat stomach really have some excess fat there. This is typical. However, unlike other types of fat, excess belly fat may negatively impact health.
You've got some subcutaneous fat. The second kind of fat is located within and surrounds vital organs including the heart, lungs, and liver.
Even for slim individuals, the "visceral" fat deeper in their bodies may be the larger issue.
However, excessive amounts have been linked to an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes type 2, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and several malignancies, including breast and colon.
Fatty tissue doesn't simply hang around. As a functioning organ, it produces "lots of nasty substances," as one expert puts it: Kristen Hairston, MD, associate professor of endocrinology
According to Carol Shively, PhD, a professor of pathology and comparative medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, when obesity rates rise,
It's recommended that women keep their waist sizes around 35 inches and men keep them under 40 inches for optimal health.
"What we're really pointing to with the apple versus the pear," says Hairston, "is that, if you have more abdominal fat, it's probably an indicator that you have more visceral fat."