You don’t need another reason to burn belly fat but here it is: too much internal abdominal fat (visceral fat) puts you at risk for osteoporosis and bone loss. For some reason, it was believed that obese women had a lower risk for developing osteoporosis (because excess body fat protected against bone loss).
Research presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) found that having too much internal abdominal fat may have a damaging effect on bone health. "We know that obesity is a major public health problem," said the study's lead author, Miriam A. Bredella, M.D., a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "Now we know that abdominal obesity needs to be included as a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone loss."
First, let me briefly state the differences in types of body fat:
Subcutaneous Fat - this is found just underneath the skin and may cause dimpling and cellulite.
Visceral Fat - this is located in the abdomen and vital organs (such as the liver). It can also infiltrate your muscles and heart. Even if you are skinny, you can have visceral fat. Studies have shown that frequent yo-yo dieting increases visceral fat. This type of fat has been associated with increased risk for heart disease and cancer.
Research and my personal experience as an exerciser and personal trainer proves that a combination of healthy nutrition, full-body circuit weight training (including bodyweight training) and high intensity interval cardio training is best for optimal fat-burning (both types), muscle strength/endurance, cardio-respiratory health and bone density benefits.
So, how did the researchers come to their conclusion? Bredella and colleagues tested the abdominal subcutaneous, visceral and total fat, as well as bone marrow fat and bone mineral density, in 50 pre-menopausal women with a mean BMI of 30.
The research revealed that women with more visceral fat had increased bone marrow fat and decreased bone mineral density. There was no significant correlation between either subcutaneous fat or total fat and bone marrow fat or bone mineral density.
"Our results showed that having a lot of belly fat is more detrimental to bone health than having more superficial fat or fat around the hips," Bredella said. He also stated, "it is important for the public to be aware that excess belly fat is a risk factor for bone loss, as well as heart disease and diabetes.”
The take home lesson for everyone is that it matters what you eat, how much you eat, how much you move and exercise each day and how you live. You don’t need a New Year’s resolution to start getting fitter and healthier! You can make that commitment today.
Mark Dilworth, BA, PES, CPT is a Certified Personal Trainer and former NCAA Division I athlete. Mark is the owner of My Fitness Hut, Her Fitness Hut, Sports Fitness Hut and My Nutrition Hut. Mark’s Fat Blaster Athletic Training System has been proven to give his clients the fit, sculpted and athletic-type bodies they want. Visit Mark’s main site:
Your Fitness University http://yourfitnessuniversity.com