Your apple shaped body may be linked to diabetes.
It’s amazing how many different types of people there are on Earth. Everyone has their own distinct flavor of personality, character traits, preferences, likes and dislikes, and perceptions on life. There is no way to group people into neat little boxes because everyone is so different in so many little ways.
But when it comes to physiology, it’s a bit easier to categorize people. The shape of your body almost always falls into one of the four following categories:
- Pear shaped body, where most of your weight is carried in your thighs and hips, and less weight in the middle
- Apple shaped body, where most of your weight is around your middle, and the circumference of your belly is larger than that of your hips
- Tube shaped body, where you have very little excess weight, and you tend to be lean and long
- Hourglass shaped body, where you carry the weight on your hips and thighs and upper body, with a slim waist
The hourglass figure has always been portrayed as highly desirable, and many people enjoy both the tube-shaped body (slim and tight forms) and the pear-shaped body (the popularity of BOOTY is trending!). Those of us with apple-shaped bodies often feel like we’re given the short end of the genetic stick.
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Unfortunately, that may be truer than you realize! According to recent research, people with an apple shaped body have a much higher chance of developing heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Multiple experts (among them a nutritionist and a cardiologist) believe that the apple shaped body is more likely to cause long-term health problems due to the build-up of fat around the organs. But it’s not just any fat—it’s the thick, stubborn white fat known as “visceral fat”. It doesn’t just sit on the belly beneath the layers of skin, but it actually surrounds the organs.
Too much visceral fat can lead to an increase in fatty acids in the liver, as well as in the muscles. This can lead to changes in the body, including a reduction in metabolism and organ function. These changes may end up causing Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and a number of other health problems.
So what can you do? You’ve already got an apple shaped body to deal with, and now you’ve got a higher risk of health problems? How can you deal?
- Be aware. Now that you’ve read this article, you know you’re at a higher risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular problems. It’s time for you to take steps to improve your health. That may mean cleaning up your lifestyle, reducing stress, quitting smoking, and cutting back on alcohol intake.
- Get active. The more active you are, the better. Abdominal fat is often accumulated as a direct result of a lack of exercise. Get more exercise and you’ll burn more of that visceral fat. The older you are, the harder it will be to burn that fat, and the higher your risk of health problems.
- Eat right. That means getting back to the basics: whole, raw, and natural foods as much as possible! Focus on consuming lean meats, fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, and cut high-fat, artificial, and processed foods from your diet. Don’t restrict calories too severely, but do cut back a little bit to encourage fat burning.
- Focus on your body overall. You can’t lose weight just on your belly, so don’t try. Focus on getting your BMI under control, and you’ll see the improvements in your gut.
