If you tend to store excessive fat in your belly or in any other area of your body, you're not alone. Excess abdominal fat can affect men and women of all ages, including people who exercise regularly or suffer from health problems. If you don't strive to reduce your belly fat, it may complicate your health over time. The guide below can help you understand more about stored body fat and what you can do to beat the odds stacked against you.

Is Stored Fat Dangerous?

Your body depends on a specific amount of fat to maintain good health. Body fat can help your body absorb certain nutrients, regenerate new cells, and strengthen its immunity to illnesses. However, excessive body fat can have a negative impact on you and your health, especially fat stored in your chest and abdomen. 

Women and men can develop two types of belly fat in their lifetime: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat develops just below your skin. You can generally lose subcutaneous fat quickly with the proper diet and exercise. However, visceral fat isn't as easy to lose as subcutaneous fat.

Visceral fat typically develops in, around, and on your vital organs. The fat can starve your organs of oxygen-rich blood, nutrients, and other critical substances they need to function naturally. If the fat develops around your lungs and diaphragm, you may struggle to breathe properly when you exercise. Some forms of visceral fat may increase the blood pressure in your liver and kidneys. If the pressure remains high in your organs, it may cause them to fail. 

There are many reasons why men and women store visceral fat. You can build up excessive abdominal fat if you consume more fatty foods and calories than recommended for your age, size, and sex. You can also develop visceral fat if you struggle with:

• high blood sugar
• hypothyroidism
• menopause or andropause (male menopause)
• stress

If you have any of the conditions above, ask a physician to help you manage them better. If your belly fat isn't due to a health problem, you'll need to follow a workout program that targets your entire body.

What Else Can You Do About Your Stubborn Belly Fat?

There are many different ways you can lose belly fat, including joining a 30- or 90-day bodyweight training program. Instead of relying on dumbbells and other weights, the program allows you to use your own body to blast away fat and build longer, leaner muscles. If you struggle to lose belly fat with traditional weight training or cardiovascular exercises, then bodyweight training may be a great option for you.

Many bodyweight programs target every muscle in your body with jumps, situps, planks, and squats. You may also engage in high-intensity interval training during your program. High-intensity exercises speed up your metabolism and heart rate, which may lead to an additional loss of fat in your belly and body. If you don't think it's possible for you to engage in high-intensity exercises at the beginning of your program, you may try low-intensity exercises instead.

Before you engage in a bodyweight program, have a doctor examine your knees, back, and arms for problems that might prevent you from following the exercises properly. Once you receive clearance from a doctor, contact a bodyweight trainer in your area. A trainer can evaluate your current and future goals and devise an exercise plan around them. Most adults choose 90-day programs to help them reach their long-term goals better. 

If you're interested in losing your belly fat or joining a bodyweight program, consult a fitness trainer online or by phone today.