There are two types of abdominal or belly fat: visceral and subcutaneous. While subcutaneous sits under our skin, visceral fat surrounds our vital organs and can severely jeopardize our health. Burning more calories can help you reduce body fat, but it’s merely a starting point. Many people aren’t aware that many of their habits are culprits in excess belly fat.
Read on to learn more about these unhealthy habits:
Poor Sleep
Studies show that those who sleep less than five hours per night put on 2.5 times more belly fat than those that sleep seven or eight hours. Plus, the lack of sleep increases cortisol production, which keeps the fat stored around your organs.
Diet Soda
The results of a decade-long study indicated that drinking diet soda causes a 70% larger waist circumference compared to those that don’t drink soda at all.
Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners that trick the body into thinking there will be a calorie influx. When this doesn’t happen, your body starts craving them and “pushes” you towards food.
Stress
Stress can cause excess belly fat, even in naturally skinny people. When we’re stressed, our bodies produce cortisol, a stress hormone. Cortisol contributes to accumulating abdominal fat, which can cause numerous health problems, especially if you’re exposed to stress for an extended period.
Canned Food
It’s vital to pay attention to the food we consume. But it’s also necessary to consider its packaging. Foods packed in aluminum cans often contain bisphenol A, i.e., BPA. A Harvard study proved that people with a high urinary BPA concentration had a larger waist and a greater risk of obesity.
Insufficient Protein Intake
A study published in August 2021 concluded that people who took protein supplements and had a calorie-restricted diet burned more fat than those who took a placebo.
Build Good Habits
Not only will breaking these habits lead to losing more belly fat, but it will also improve your quality of life. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and effectively managing your stress has countless benefits for your physical and mental health and should be a priority.
