The Spot-Reduction Fable Beware! New Article from Fitness Elements Express!

Secret Truths of Nutrition Quackery 103

The Spot-Reduction Fable Beware!

I could just scream at this topic alone! I get asked about spot reduction all the time. Natalie I want to lose my belly fat in two week how can we do that? Natalie how can I get rid of my hanging gobbler fat under my arms? Natalie how can I lose my chin fat? Are you kidding me? I want you to listen carefully there is absolutely no way to spot reduce. Every one's body is different and unique your body will lose the way it wants to naturally. Some people may lose it in their thighs first, some may lose it in their face first and so on. Try and be happy with what you got and work hard on all body parts as a whole to accomplish your health, fitness, and nutritional goals. To think otherwise is foolish and will set you up for failure and disappointment.

No, exercise, dietary, or other non-surgical treatment can produce spot-reduction. While the amount of body fat is determined to a large extent by eating and exercise habits, the distribution of body fat is determined by heredity and sex. Reduction of particular part can only be accomplished as part of an overall weight-reduction program (Barrett and Herbert).

Exercise, even when localized, draws from all bodily fat stores, not from just the local fat deposits. Tennis players have been found to have the same triceps skin fold measurements on both arms, even though their dominant arm was exercised more (FDA Consumer).

Exercising a specific area does increase muscle tone and may make the person look thinner. For example, substantial reductions in abdominal girth can result from localized exercise such as sit-ups. This is not due to fat loss. Rather, the abdominal muscles are strengthened and are better able to hold the abdomen.

Exercise does appear to preferentially reduce fat stored in the upper body and abdominal regions. (android obesity) compared to fat stored in the gluteal and femoral regions (gynoid obesity). Since android obesity places an individual at greater risk for chronic diseases (coronary heart disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and Type 2 diabetes), exercise confers significant health benefits, Although gynoid obesity is more frustratingly resistant to the effects of exercise than android obesity, it also does not confer as great health risk (NHLBI).

Are next topic on spot reduction will be continued on gimmicks such as body wraps, vibrating and elastic belts, and electric muscle stimulators. So stay tuned for these short term temporary effects. I hope you understand why spot reduction just isn't realistic and not a solution to your underlying problem in the long term.

Have a happy and healthy day!

References: Nutrition Dimension, Dr. Barrett MD,Herbert, Ellen Coleman RD, (FDA Consumer),and (NHLBI)

By,

Natalie Pyles


NSA Speaker, Author, Medical Exercise and Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist, Licensed Nutritionist,Health, Fitness, and Holistic Nutrition and Nursing Educator