New Delhi: Increasing belly fat and fat around the stomach is becoming a common problem in India. Earlier this problem was mainly seen in elderly people, but now youth are also being affected by it. Health experts believe that there are many reasons behind this, such as diet, lifestyle, lack of sleep and lack of physical activities.
According to experts, the Indian diet is rich in carbohydrates. Bread, rice, potatoes and other starchy foods make up the bulk of the daily diet, while protein-rich foods are consumed less. Lack of protein affects muscle development and excess calories start getting stored as fat.
Apart from this, the habit of eating sweet tea, biscuits, namkeen and other snacks throughout the day also increases calories. Consuming excess calories and less physical activity leads to accumulation of fat around the stomach. Experts say that balanced diet and regular exercise can control this problem to a great extent.
Modern lifestyle is also a major reason for the increase in obesity. Sitting for long periods of time and lack of physical activity slows down the process of burning calories. Apart from this, the habit of eating heavy food late at night also helps in weight gain. Many people go to sleep immediately after dinner, which does not give the body time to digest the food.
Sleep and stress also have a profound effect on body weight. Less sleep and constant mental stress affect the body’s hormones, which increases appetite and increases the chances of weight gain. Adequate sleep and stress management are considered important parts of a healthy lifestyle.
Experts suggest that instead of relying only on dieting to reduce belly fat, permanent changes should be made in lifestyle. Including pulses, cheese, eggs and other protein sources in the diet, taking daily walks, reducing junk food and sugary drinks and exercising regularly can be beneficial.
