Health & Nutrition
Potbelly!
For every inch your waistline exceeds the size
of your chest, you can deduct two years from your life. That's how funny a
potbelly isn't. For all the world to see, a "bay window" is evidence that you
are either eating too much, exercising too little, or both. Despite the comic
relief afforded by the tummies of some very successful comedians, a loose
abdomen is no laughing matter. Why?
Because a weak abdomen can interfere with the proper
functioning of the organs inside it. Apart from facilitating movements of the
trunk and legs, the stomach muscles provide support and protection for the
liver, kidneys, pancreas, and of course the stomach. Abdominal muscles that
lose their ability to serve as a kind of natural girdle allow these
organs--and the lower spine--more internal movement than they were designed to
handle. Digestive disorders can result, as can back problems. An estimated 80%
of all lower back pain can be traced to lack of abdominal strength.
Sitting gives stomach muscles little to do, and so they
weaken. And because sitting also gives the rest of our bodies little to do, we
fatten. The combination is devastating and develops into a vicious circle: As
a burgeoning waistline makes movement more difficult, movement becomes less
likely. And less movement means fewer calories are burned. And fewer calories
burned means more calories stored--around the middle. The force behind the
evolution of a potbelly, as you can see, is not one to be taken lightly.
You don't have to be overweight in order to suffer from
abdominal prolapse. Excess weight increases one's chances, but a potbelly can
develop in anyone who neglects to maintain sufficient abdominal strength and
proper posture. Also, osteoporosis can cause potbellies in the slimmest and
most fit women.
Also see our fact sheets on Diabetes
and Hypertension.
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