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The recent study has revealed that even if an individual has healthy weight, extra pounds around the midsection can still expose you to heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases. The study conducted over a period of 14-years including more than 15000 people suggests that men who had big bellies were twice more likely to die as compared to men who were overweight. Women with normal weight but increased bellies had 32% chances of dying more than obese women, according to the study spearheaded by Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, cardiologist at the Mayo clinic, reports USA Today.

This new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine Journal said that the people who have higher central obesity were at greater risk of mortality than those who have higher BMIs. Belly fat is highly dangerous to both men and women and may contribute to scores of health risks. Dr. Jade Teta, Integrative physician and a blogger at Huffington Post said, there are two types of belly fat - visceral and subcutaneous. "Subcutaneous belly fat is above the abdominal muscles and can be pinched. This is the stuff that hangs over the belt". She said that it is the fat that is stored around the belly which is harmful. She also explains, "Belly fat is stored when the combination of excess calories meets the hormonal influence of cortisol and insulin. For those of you who take a calorie-centered approach to weight loss, you may find that the fat around your belly burns off at a much slower rate", reports Huffington Post.

Experts say that he people with central obesity and otherwise normal weight represent an important subset of population that needs lifestyle change and other preventive strategies such as diet change, exercising and stress management, reports CBS News

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