Obesity Health Risk: Beer Belly Is More Lethal Than Being Overweight

Having a beer belly may seem odd, but studies reveal that having such is actually more lethal compared to being obese. Beer bellies don't necessarily come from beers, as it is comprised of too many calories that built up on the waist.

Web Md shed light into the 'beer belly' phenomenon which affects numerous individuals worldwide. As per the website, it is not necessarily composed of beer, but by too many calories which can turn an individual's waist line into a budging belly over your pants. Though it made of calories, alcohol makes a huge contribution with the bulging fat on the mid-section.

 An endocrine expert and obesity researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Michael Jensen, MD stated that the alcohol that the individual is drinking is being burned by the liver instead of fat.

"In general, alcohol intake is associated with bigger waists," Jensen explained. "Because when you drink alcohol, the liver burns alcohol instead of fat."

As per The Telegraph, a cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Dr. Francisco Lopez Jimenez stated that Waist Circumference is often linked to cardiovascular mortality. Though the research finding may seem feasible, further research needs to be done in regards to the health risks involved in having a beer belly.

 "Obesity, defined by BMI or measures of central obesity, such as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference," Jimenez stated. "Is associated with increased total and cardiovascular mortality, however, a recent meta-analysis showed that being overweight, according to BMI was actually associated with lower total mortality, challenging the paradigm that BMI is linked to increased mortality. Further, whether measures of fat distribution provide any incremental risk information beyond BMI alone has been a major source of controversy."

Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle affect not only the United States but individuals world-wide. With the alarming rate of health problems, it is important to look after one's diet and health.