Make small lifestyle changes to prevent abdominal obesity

Minor changes in lifestyle can help to whittle your waist and stop abdominal obesity, a new study says.

It is well noted that the ‘metabolic syndrome’, which is a cluster of diabetes factors, tends to stem from excess abdominal weight.

Other symptoms include high blood pressure and blood sugar. Not good. However, experts say that you don’t have to completely overhaul your lifestyle in order to see the benefits - just a few small changes can reap massive rewards.

According to www.canada.com, Dr Ilanne-Parikka of the Finnish Diabetes Association found a 15% reduction in both abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome in overweight men and women following small lifestyle changes over less than four years. The dietary amendments included eating more fruits, vegetables and whole-grains, and the volunteers also undertook 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day.

However, a control group who made no changes to their diet or exercise managed a small decrease in metabolic syndrome and no increase in abdominal obesity, so it seems that larger-scale experiments need to be taken to get to the bottom of this.

DietPixie reckons it’s pretty sound advice though - it’s much easier to make small changes which you can turn into habits, and gradually improve your lifestyle - rather than going all-out at the gym but feeling as bloated as Britney a few weeks later.

Source: www.canada.com

Pic: bendud_e@yahoo.co.uk