It used to be that pot bellies, even on thin people, were regarded as a funny looking, but harmless physical attribute, but now, more and more research is pointing to the fact that protruding bellies are indicators of some serious health issues and can elevate risk of certain health issues substantially.

Some of us have been naturally blessed with a flat tummy, and have never had an issue with a belly that is larger than our waist line, but there are many times those numbers in people who do have problems with maintaining a trim belly area, and experts think this may have to do with the higher amount of heart disease and other heart related health issues these days.

Supposedly the newest studies actually have correlated larger bellies that protrude from the body on heavier people, as well as people who are thin everywhere else except their bellies, and found that both have the same substantially increased risk and likelihood of developing health issues that are mostly heart related.

It had always been thought that this was mostly a theory, and not yet a proven one, as most of those with heart problems did tend to exhibit the pot bellies more than those without, but now that studies back this theory up, it’s another reason to get that cardio work in as often as you can, and do your crunches to keep the pounds off the midsection as best you can.

Sure, there are some body types that tend to have more weight centralized in the midsection, but as with weight anywhere on the body, it can be reduced through diet and exercise to add least get the odds on your side.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 21st, 2007 at 12:18 pm and is filed under Health and Fitness News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.