Getting Rid of Belly Fat Is Harder Than You Think — Here's How to Do It

The fat around your abdomen is also known as visceral fat, and there are many components that factor into the amount of this type of fat a person has. "Everyone gains weight differently, and this is mainly a factor of genetics. However, a high consumption of alcohol and refined sugar have been associated with increased abdominal adiposity or 'visceral fat,'" English said. High amounts of abdominal fat have been linked to medical issues like metabolic syndrome and PCOS. "Remember though, we're talking about a high amount of abdominal fat, not a minimal amount of midsection softness that some people are worried about for aesthetic reasons," she clarified.