“It is proven that belly fat makes adults more at risk to heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, dyslipidemia etc. Belly fat which is  visceral fat is active fat and is an example of cardiovascular problem. What is also revealed through the study, and is critical to note, is that even if you have a BMI within the normal range and have belly fat, you may be at heart risk. Hence, it is important to take necessary steps towards heart health,” said Dr HK Chopra, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Moolchand Medicity. The pan-India study ‘Impact of belly fat on heart health’ conducted by Nielsen and Saffolalife covered 837 respondents across key cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Hyderabad.

Bellly Fat can lead to weight gain when produced in excess, especially in the abdominal region. In many people, stress drives overeating. But instead of the excess calories being accumulated as fat all over the body, cortisol advocates fat storage in the belly. A number of aspects are allied with the rise of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, including cigarette smoking, absence of physical activity and a family history of the disease. Saturated and trans fats are other risk factors which increase blood cholesterol and heart attack rates. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men.

 Atrial fibrillation, occurs when the atria ,upper chambers of the heart contract very fast and irregularly. A-fib is thought to be caused by inflammation and scarring fibrosis in the left atrium. Regardless of your overall weight, having a large amount of belly fat increases your risk of Cardiovascular disease, Insulin resistance and Colorectal cancer. The fat layer around the outside of the heart is called epicardial adipose tissue

Choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. As part of a healthy diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish preferably oily fish-at least twice per week, nuts, legumes and seeds and try eating some meals without meat. Select lower fat dairy products and poultry (skinless) Eat more fruits and vegetables, leaner cuts of beef and pork, and trim as much visible fat as possible before cooking. Bake, broil, or grill meats; avoid frying,Use fat-free or reduced-fat milk instead of whole milk.