Why you cannot get rid of your 'belly fat'

MANILA, Philippines – Ever wonder why that annoying belly balloon is so hard to get rid of? More than just for vanity’s sake, that belly bulge must be removed because this could lead to heart disease, diabetes, or worse, cancer. If exercises and healthy diet cannot remove it, these are probably the possible reasons why.

You are getting older.
As you grow older, the metabolism of your body slows down, making it hard for your body to burn visceral fat. As you get older, your muscle mass decreases and your amount of fat tends to increase, decreasing your BMR and the amount of calories your body burns.

You are doing the wrong exercises.
Bad exercise habits ruin your chances of getting that perfect bodacious physique. Cardio is not enough to get rid of your belly fat.  You need to do a mix of exercises. Try doing some strenuous exercises which target your abdomen area.

You are eating the wrong food.
Junk food and processed canned goods are contributors to those belly fat. Studies show that processed food is related to obesity. These kinds of food is usually high in sugar and fructose corn syrup which give calorie content that is more than what your body may need. Processed food are also engineered to make you consume more, therefore leads to over consumption, making you more fat.

You are way too stressed.
Many studies over the past years show that stress causes both obesity and diabetes in a variety of ways. This is probably the reason why you cannot shake off the fat no matter how healthy your diet is. Stress raises your blood sugar,  makes you hungry and crave more sugar, increases your belly fat and makes your liver fatty and increases the rate at which you store fat.
The hormone cortisol released when you are stressed produces a lot visceral fat.

You are not getting enough sleep.
Prevention.com suggests that when you sleep less, you burn less, eat more, crave more, hang on to fat more,and have more time to eat. According to Men’s Fitness, sleep deprivation can change how your cells respond to insulin and even how your genes affect your weight. A study published in journal Sleep, found out that lack of sleep in men lead to increased levels of a hormone that stimulates appetite while women had less of a hormone that signals fullness. 

You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
A study defined polycystic ovary syndrome as a condition characterized by hyperandrogenism and chronic oligo-anovulation. It makes it more difficult for the body to use the hormone insulin, which normally helps convert sugars and starches from foods into energy, therefore causing  a buildup of glucose on the blood stream. Having an ‘apple shape’ body is an indicator of this disease. If you’re an apple shape and overweight, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.