The shape of your belly could reveal a lot about your health. Belly fat, while, we know could suggest an unhealthy lifestyle, the type and shape of the belly could also tell you about the kind of health risk you may be having. There are two main types of belly fats: Subcutaneous fat: The soft fat just under your skin, the kind you can pinch.Visceral fat: The deeper, more dangerous fat stored around your internal organs such as the liver, pancreas, and kidneys.Having some belly fat is completely normal as it is important for energy, insulation, and protection, however, the excess fat may increase risk of chronic disease. Shape Of Your Belly FatHormonal Belly: This happens when a person gains weight around the abdomen due to hormonal fluctuation. This could be due to changes in thyroid, adrenal, reproductive, or other hormone levels. This is common in women with PCOS, who often have fat stored around their waist. As per the Office on Women's Health (OWH), PCOS is common and impacts 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Due to the higher levels of male sex hormones and higher insulin levels, women with PCOS gain weight around their abdomen. Alcohol Belly: This is also known as beer belly. This happens when you consume too many calories. As per experts, alcohol intake is often associated with bigger waists, because when you drink alcohol, the liver burns alcohol instead of fats. The alcohol belly is a protruding abdomen, which usually gives your belly a full round shape. This happens due to the stored visceral fat, and could be linked with many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Mommy Tummy: A mommy belly or a mommy tummy is usually the soft belly or the bulging belly that comes after child-birth. This happens due to diastasis recti, which is a separation of abdominal muscle. There could be other factors, including stretched skin, excess fat, and water retention. It can be addressed by focusing on exercises that strengthen your core muscles and help the abdominal muscles come back together. Stressed Belly: While it is not a medical term, it can happen due to high levels of cortisol, and triggered by chronic stress. This can also lead to storage of visceral fat in the abdominal area, which is linked with increased health risks like inflammation and insulin resistance. This is usually associated with someone having an apple-shaped body, however, the fat deposit may vary in people. The Fat You Can See And FeelSubcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) makes up nearly 90% of total body fat. This is the fat distributed around your abdomen, thighs, hips, and upper back. It’s soft, visible, and often what people refer to when they talk about “jiggly” fat.Unlike visceral fat, subcutaneous fat is not wrapped around your internal organs, which makes it less strongly linked to serious diseases. However, this doesn’t make it harmless. A 2017 review found that higher levels of upper-body subcutaneous fat were associated with:Increased blood pressureHigher LDL (“bad”) cholesterolHigher triglycerides and blood glucoseLower HDL (“good”) cholesterolWhile visceral body tissue is a fat stored deeper inside your abdominal cavity, a fat you cannot pinch or feel. This is stored around the organs and could lead to type 2 diabetes, increased inflammation, higher blood fats, and elevated blood pressure. Men are more likely to accumulate visceral fat, conditions like hormone belly, or an apple-shaped body could be an example of that.
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