Beer Belly Up to Exercise

by Diane Lofshult

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But what if your favorite man’s waist circumference is expanding, putting his health at risk? A new study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2003; 35 [2], 207-13) examined the weight loss results of 30 obese male members of the Singapore Armed Forces who completed a 4-month regimented basic training program. Fat-free mass, fat mass and percent body fat were determined through skinfold measurements.

Although the trainees lost a substantial amount of weight (an average of about 12 kilograms) owing to their increased physical activity during the 4 months, they also—and perhaps more importantly—lost considerable inches around their waists. In fact, waist circumference in the training group decreased by 13.7 percent, while hip circumference decreased by only 7.7 percent.

The authors concluded that exercise-induced weight loss associated with a reduction in abdominal fat can help men maintain fat-free mass and could possibly reduce their disease risk.