insulin, and insulin resistance — a precursor to diabetes. Together, those three factors can trigger diabetes, hardening of the arteries and heart disease, he explained.
These states can be turned around, however. Weight reduction is crucial, Baumohl said, even if it’s not always easy.
“It is important to point out that we as humans cannot target specific areas of our body to lose weight from; a phenomenon commonly referred to as ‘spot reduction,'” she said.
“There are hundreds of fad diets out there promising quick and easy tricks to get that flat stomach and to lose those love handles,” Baumohl said. However, “at this time, the only prescription for losing weight, no matter where on the body, is nutrition education, a supportive environment and personal motivation.”
More information
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more on weight and health risk.
