Originally published September 27 2005
Exercise will help avoid excessive buildup of belly fat
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A study at Duke University finds that "deep fat" stored in the belly is reduced and prevented by exercise more so than dieting. Inactivity leads to a buildup that is very difficult to reverse.
---Inactivity led to a buildup of fat deep inside the belly.
---Modest amounts of exercise held the line on deep belly fat.
---Higher amounts of exercise cut deep belly fat and fat around the waist.
The study appears in The Journal of Physiology.
It took place at Duke University under the supervision of exercise physiologist Cris Slentz, PhD, and colleagues.
If Slentz had it her way, people would quit thinking "weight loss" and start thinking "health gain."
"Until we are able to prevent the weight that many dieters regain following short-term success, we should place a greater national emphasis towards prevention," says Slentz in a news release.
"It will be a challenge to change the message from 'exercise now to lose weight' to 'exercise now so in five years you won't be 20 pounds heavier,'" she continues.
The stakes may be too high for an out-of-sight, out-of-mind outlook.
Deep belly fat (technically called "visceral fat" or fat surrounding organs within the abdomen) has been linked to health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome --- a cluster of risk factors that greatly increase the chance of developing these diseases.
Visceral fat hasn't been proven to cause those conditions, but it seems to at least be a red flag of possible health risks, write Slentz and colleagues.
By the way, visceral fat isn't just for the millions of overweight or obese people.
Participants used treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical trainers.
They were directly supervised or wore heart-rate monitors to check their workout intensity.
They were also counseled not to diet or change their diet during the study.
On one hand, the study shows the high price of inactivity, states Slentz.
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