Someone who has a pot belly has a round, fat stomach which sticks out, either because they eat or drink too much, or because they have had very little to eat for some time.
When you look down, you might need to stoop a little to see your feet if you’re like most people who are getting close to 50. The increasing waistline that can frequently creep up on you as you age, much like a receding hairline or more wrinkles, is the dreaded pot belly.
It’s difficult to fight since it almost seems like a rite of passage and a natural part of life. However, a recent study discovered that letting your middle swell won’t just force you to buy the next size up in trousers; it can also impair your physical capabilities in later life.
The study indicated that participants who had a high or moderately high waist circumference at the start of the trial were 57% more likely to be “frail” than those with a normal waistline. The study followed 4,509 adults in Norway who were 45 years of age or older for over twenty years.
Frailty, however, does not immediately conjure images of a “wobbling” elderly person hunched over a cane. Frailty, on the other hand, comprises weak grips, decreased walking speeds, general weariness, unintended weight loss, and little movement. Those who entered the trial obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, had a 2.5-fold increased risk of being frail compared to those with a normal BMI (18.5 to 24.9),
The researchers who conducted the study speculate that there might be various causes. Shreeshti Uchai, a Ph.D. research fellow in nutritional epidemiology at the University of Oslo in Troms, Norway, and her colleagues co-authored the paper. Obesity causes fat cells to become more inflammatory, which can harm muscle fibers and diminish strength and function.
According to the scientists, the findings show the importance of monitoring both total weight gain and any increase in waist circumference as well as the necessity to widen the definition of frailty. Growing data “recognizes the subgroup of ‘fat and frail’ older persons in contrast to interpreting frailty exclusively as a wasting condition” in the setting of a “rapidly aging population and escalating obesity epidemic,” they stated.
Exercise can help fight off the potential weakness that comes with aging. The physical activity guidelines for Americans from the US Department of Health and Human Services recommend that adults exercise at least two or more days each week for at least 30 minutes, and do muscle-strengthening exercises involving all major muscle groups.
Dr. Nieca Goldberg, clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and medical director of Atria New York City, recently told CNN that losing body fat and gaining lean muscle can help with balance and posture.
Try to combine strength training with aerobics to maintain your strength and health.
