Do you know? Japan requires citizens between the ages of 45 and 74 to have their waistline measured once a year and potentially seek medical attention.
While Japan is one of the least obese developed nations in the world, the Japanese Ministry of Health passed the “Metabo Law” in an effort to curb obesity in their country. The law requires men and women between the ages of 45 and 74 to have their waistline examined once a year and potentially seek medical treatment if their measurements fall outside established ranges.
In 2008, the New York Times reported the Metabo Law affects men with waistlines larger than 35.4 inches and women with waistlines larger than 31.5 inches. People exceeding these limits, which are identical to the measurements established by the International Diabetes Federation in 2006, may be required to go to counseling sessions or converse with a health expert about dietary options.
WHY WORRY ABOUT THE WAISTLINE?
Excess fat around your midsection (stomach/waist area) is especially dangerous for your heart. As your waistline expands, so does your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Belly fat (also known as visceral fat) is very different from fat that accumulates in the hips and thighs. Fat accumulated in the lower body is subcutaneous (the pear shape), while fat in the abdominal area (the apple-shape) is largely visceral.
One reason excess visceral fat is so harmful could be its location near the portal vein (the vein that carries blood from the intestinal area to the liver). Substances released by visceral fat, including free fatty acids, enter the portal vein and travel to the liver, where they can influence the production of blood lipids. Visceral fat is directly linked with higher total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol.
In addition, the resulting state of “lipotoxicity” affects the nearby pancreas, blocking its ability to produce insulin, the hormone that carries glucose into the body’s cells. Lipotoxicity also promotes insulin resistance, in which the body’s muscle and liver cells don’t respond adequately to normal insulin levels. As a result, blood sugar levels rise, heightening the risk for type 2 diabetes.
EXERCISE AND DIETING HELP YOU LOSE BELLY FAT
While there’s no magic formula for losing belly fat, the starting point for combating abdominal fat is to do regular exercise (both aerobic and muscle-strengthening) for at least 30 minutes per day to help you burn extra calories and lose belly fat.
Diet is also important. Staying away from carbs that quickly spike your blood sugar levels and encourage your body to store fat. These two sources are the major culprits:
- Sugar. Anything made with added sugar - cookies, cakes, pastries, kuih-muih (Malaysian desserts), ice cream, soft drinks, canned juices, and the like.
- White flour. The most consumed examples are white bread, pasta, pizza, and noodles.
Intermittent fasting may also help improve your body’s insulin response and reduce visceral fat. The basic idea is to limit your food intake to a shorter-than-normal time frame. Do this three days per week and then eat on your regular schedule for the other four days.
If you often have a busy schedule and eat out a lot, it can easily lead to weight gain. Try pairing your meal with Béyond Glow. Thanks to the patented okra formula in Béyond Glow, it works as a fat binder in the stomach, then forms a gel that is too large to be fully digested but is naturally eliminated from the body, helping you to reduce fat and calorie absorption effortlessly.