- The figures with most noticeable belly fat are those shaped like "apples" rather than "pears." If you have an apple-shaped figure, your waistline and belly tend to be large in comparison with your relatively slender shoulders and hips. If you have a pear-shaped figure, your widest part tends to be your hips, and you may also have an hourglass figure that gives your waistline the appearance of being small. Both types, however, can have excess belly fat. People with "apple" belly fat tend to have straighter bodies when seen from the front, while "pears" reveal lots of curves.
- Belly fat can appear at any stage in life, in women and in men. In women, it is common to develop extra belly fat after pregnancy. Generally, one's abdominal fat grows as one ages, although lifestyle and genetic factors play a big part in determining how much belly fat a person has.
- Regarding the idea that you can "spot-reduce" and eliminate your belly fat via exercise programs targeted to your abdominal muscles, or "abs"--you can't. You can only build muscle in your abdominal area, which doesn't necessarily burn away the belly fat there. Nor can gimmicky products like lotions or special belts get rid of belly fat. While diets and aerobic exercise might help you lose weight, they won't necessarily help you lose weight in your belly. Often, the belly is the first place where weight gets put on, and the last place it goes away. In many people, belly fat is here to stay.
- Although you may not like your belly fat, not everyone agrees. Some people consider belly fat beautiful, as evidenced by the paintings and sculptures that emphasize well-rounded bodies (such as those of Rodin), as well as the fat-acceptance movement in the U.S. and the preference of certain cultures and subcultures all over the world for larger, fuller or more well-rounded bodies. Everywhere--including the U.S., the Middle East, South Asia, Africa and South America--you'll find people who find belly fat aesthetically appealing and others who consider it a stigma.
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If you have a pear-shaped figure, you can minimize the bulge of your belly by wearing clothes that emphasize your smaller waistline in relation to your hips. Focus on outlining your curvy shape. Wear clothing with belts or horizontal stripes near the waistline. Emphasize your bust and hips. Go with tops that fall no lower than your upper hips and emphasize your waistline. An A-line dress or top flatters a pear-shaped body, gently suggesting a waist while flaring out at the hips.
In an apple-shaped figure, disguise the belly bulge with flattering fashions that bring the focus away from the waist. If the rest of you is slender, borrow from maternity fashions by wearing outfits fitted in the shoulders and the legs, but looser and draping around the middle. An empire waist flatters apple-shaped figures. Choose dresses that emphasize your length, preferably in a vertical pattern or mono-color, and that drape loosely over the waist area. Avoid horizontal lines and other designs around your waist, but consider wearing bold designs over your shoulder area and legs. Opt for tops that fall below your hips and bring the focus to your legs. Avoid outfits that fit more closely at the belly than above and below.
In short, if you have extra belly fat, choose fashions that outline and smooth out your true body shape, rather than those that try to disguise it, squish it or cover it up.
