View of a mature cyclist climbing the Col du Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees Justin Paget//Getty Images
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What are the dangers of belly fat?
How can cycling reduce belly fat?
How can you increase the fat-burning effect of cycling?
There are plenty of reasons to make cycling a regular workout, considering research indicates it can make you feel more satisfied with your life, improve brain function like short-term memory and focus, and possibly even help you live longer .
One more benefit of riding to add to that list? It could have an effect on belly fat—and that’s not just an aesthetic goal, it’s a significant health booster.
Here’s why reducing belly fat matters, along with what research says about cycling’s effects on body composition. Related Story What to Know About Cycling for Weight Loss
What are the dangers of belly fat? Although carrying excess weight, in general, could put you at higher risk for certain health issues—for example, having obesity is associated with higher likelihood of some cancers —belly fat appears to be particularly problematic.Abdominal adiposity (the scientific term for belly fat) is defined as a waist circumference of more than 35 inches in women and more than 40 inches in men. And this type of fat has been linked to high blood pressure , high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and diabetes.A 2020 finding in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology noted that not only did belly fat boost the chances of having a first heart attack, it also significantly elevates risk for a second one. According to the American Heart Association , this risk of heart attack exists even if your weight is considered to be in the normal range.Another study, in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , noted that fat in this part of the body can also play a role in kidney disorders and liver diseases.In terms of why fat in the belly spikes your health risks more […]
Does Cycling Burn Belly Fat? Here’s What to Know, According to Experts
