About Beer Bellies

"Do fries come with that shake?" may not be what you want to hear in reference to your mid-section. The unsightly abdominal fat that protrudes from your physique is more than unaesthetic, it's unhealthy. Beer bellies are not created merely through the consumption of the hops-based alcoholic beverage. Much of that excess belly fat is a result of excessive caloric intake from food and drink and minimal exercise, creating a beer belly over time.

Significance

Beer bellies can cause serious medical problems in their carriers. Carrying excess weight around your waistline puts you at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Overindulgent beer drinking puts you at considerable risk for liver damage. Those who have organ or belly fat are likely to age ungracefully.

Features

Beer bellies are "extra baggage" carried around the abdominal area, pronounced bellies that are noticeably larger and disproportionate to the rest of a person's physical build. Not all beer bellies are large. They can start as a small pooch and grow to 40 inches or larger. Risk factors for heart disease and other diseases increase with a waist size over 40 inches in men. Men are predisposed to deposit fat around their abdominal region. Women typically carry their problem weight on their hips, buttocks, and thighs although they can have beer bellies too.

Identification

Beer bellies form due to the consumption of excess calories. Beer is high in calories and drinking in excess can add up--146 calories per beer, times multiple beers equals considerable belly bulge. In addition to large amounts of alcohol consumption, those extra goodies and snacks or large meals packed with calories, add onto the fat around your middle. Another factor that contributes to the development of beer bellies is a sedentary lifestyle with insufficient exercise. Filling up and exceeding your limit of satiety, coupled with inactivity, are the ingredients for growing a beer belly.

Considerations

Finding a beer belly unattractive can be a reason for ridding yourself of the extra weight; however, there are other motivators for considering an immediate change. You can reinforce self-motivation by considering the threat of belly fat to your life. A five-year study at Duke University shows those who go eight months or more without daily exercise have a "significant increase of abdominal fat" (2003). Exercise is recommended to live a healthy lifestyle.

Misconceptions

The misinformed believe abdominal exercises are the sole answer to combating beer bellies. Working the abs can build up muscles underneath the layer of beer belly fat. Ridding your body of the fat on top of a hidden six-pack is a dual process of exercise and dieting. Exercising burns excess calories and helps you drop extra weight. Limiting your calories and performing cardiovascular and aerobic exercises will prevent your body from storing more calories than you burn, helping you lose that beer belly.

Who Can Help:

• Are you tired of cakey makeup? Try RawMinerals Free.

Resources

• What you should know about belly fat in men
• More than two-thirds of American men have beer bellies.

[LaKeishah]

on 12/5/2008 Great article. I will have to share this article with my husband and many others. Keep up the good work:)

[Kilogramm]

on 12/5/2008 I see you doin' big thangs with this article, lots of great info and details as with all of your articles! 100 star write up pretty gurl!

[jennen]

on 12/3/2008 I like this set up ... 5*

[jennen]

on 12/3/2008 Good article....

[TheGlamSquad]

on 12/3/2008 This is a great article! It was very informative and really interesting to know. I know allot of beer drinkers that need to know this information and I will be sure to pass it on to them. Thanks for sharing this article with me! 5*****