Abdominal fat is quite common in both men and women, but the term pooch generally refers specifically to lower belly fat that accumulates below the belly button. This most often occurs in women and has a few potential causes.
What causes a lower belly pooch? A panniculus is defined as the apron of sagging skin (and sometimes a bit of fat) that hangs below the navel. Although many people, especially women, are prone to fat accumulation in this area, it can become quite significant after pregnancy or a significant weight loss.
The dreaded lower belly bulge may indicate poor core stability. The core must be strong enough to meet the demands of life; walking, lifting, carrying, caring for children, and participating in a sport. Proper core stability is necessary to keep our bodies working efficiently.
There are a few ways you can measure your body fat: Waist measurement: Wrap a tape measure around your waist just above your hip bones. For women, 35 inches or more means you're at risk for health problems stemming from visceral fat. For men, the number is 40 inches or more.
It is anatomically correct and totally normal for a woman (in a healthy weight range and with a healthy waist circumference) to have a lower belly pooch! Many women, including myself, who have birthed children will have loose skin from pregnancy in the lower belly which enhances the pooch. This is normal!
Skinny fat, Alexander says, can happen if you eat a particularly poor diet or in people who are not typically active. Visceral fat likes inactivity. In one study, thin people who watched their diets but didn't exercise were more likely to have too much visceral fat. The key is to be active, at any size.
It's usually large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genes and other factors. It involves visceral fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and typically feels hard to touch. A PCOS belly is also characterized by a high waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 (apple body shape).
You can easily pinch the excess fat because it builds up under your skin. When hormonal imbalances cause abdominal weight gain, the fat accumulates around your internal organs (visceral fat). Your belly enlarges and takes on an apple shape. You may look extremely bloated instead of like you're carrying extra weight.
Unhealthy eating is the biggest driver of big bellies. Too many starchy carbohydrates and bad fats are a recipe for that midsection to expand. Instead, get plenty of veggies, choose lean proteins, and stay away from fats from red meats. Choose healthier fats in things like fish, nuts, and avocados.
One reason for belly fat is a sedentary lifestyle. Even skinny people can spend too much time in front of the television or computer screen, and this can encourage what little extra fat they have to settle into the stomach. A diet high in processed foods can also cause belly fat, even in skinny people.
Stress belly refers to abdominal fat caused by increased cortisol levels, overeating, sluggishness, and other effects of stress. Stress belly is not a medical diagnosis. The condition contributes to overall weight gain and obesity and can cause medical issues.
What does a FUPA look like? You might notice a bulge above your pubic bone, sometimes feeling like an extra pouch. It can create smooth lines or bumps under tight clothes, revealing its unique characteristics that many can relate to.
Fluffy Fat. "Fluffy fat is soft and jiggles easily. Female hormones tell our bodies to accumulate this kind of subcutaneous [below the skin, above the muscle] fat much more readily than men, and it's typically found on women's stomachs, hips, thighs, and/or backs of the arms," says Dr. Chasin.
Loss of muscle mass decreases how quickly the body uses calories. That can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight. Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older even if they don't gain weight.
Functional reasons for a distended abdomen tend to involve digestive problems that cause gas and/or digestive contents to accumulate. Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents.
Cortisol belly simply looks like abdominal fat, and there is no way to identify it by appearance. More important than its appearance is what cortisol belly can do to your health. Visceral fat is considered particularly dangerous because of its location near vital organs and its metabolic activity.
A common symptom of an underactive thyroid is weight gain, often around the abdomen. However, the American Thyroid Association states that the weight gain may not necessarily be due to the build up of fat, but the accumulation of salt and water.
There are some signs of insulin resistance that your doctor may look for. These includes a waistline over 40 inches in men, and a waistline over 35 inches in women. Skin tags or patches of dark velvety skin called acanthosis nigricans.
Hard to Touch: A PCOS belly typically feels hard to the touch due to the accumulation of visceral fat in the lower abdomen. High Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Many women with PCOS have a waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87, which is often referred to as an apple body shape.
This can happen especially if you don't exercise and eat a lot of processed food. Additionally, some people have a genetic predisposition to having FUPA. This means their body is programmed to store fat in the mons pubis which leads to bulging mons even if they're skinny elsewhere in their body.