What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Belly Fat?
Look in the mirror, and you may notice a slight bulge around your waist. Maybe your pants have grown a bit snug. Even if your total body weight is normal, you could still be carrying around extra belly fat that can increase your risk for serious health issues.
In addition to holding on to belly fat, older men tend to lose muscle mass, a change known as sarcopenia, with most losing approximately 30% of their muscle mass during their lifetimes beginning after age 30.
“When you lose muscle mass, your calorie- and fat-burning machine runs less efficiently, and it’s easier for calories to get stored as fat,” says Dr. Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “And men don’t store fat in their legs and chest like women. Instead, it goes straight to the belly.”
Excerpted from Harvard Health Publishing
