Abdominal fat, also known as visceral or belly fat, is the fat that surrounds the organs in your abdomen. It is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, and heart disease. Even if your weight is within healthy limits, too much abdominal fat can still lead to a variety of health problems.

Because belly fat sits around the waist and stomach area, abdominal-oriented exercise can help tone and flatten your abdomen while providing you with a useful source of exercise.

Try these exercises to burn abdominal fat:

Abdominal crunches – lie on your back on a flat surface with your knees bent and your feet on the ground. Place your hands crossed behind your head or crossed over your chest. Using your abdominal muscles, lift your shoulders about 5 centimeters (2 inches) towards the ceiling. Make sure to lift your head and shoulders together, keeping your neck in alignment. Slowly lower back down to the floor and repeat.

Leg Lifts – lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you and your arms by your side. Breathe in, and using your abdominal muscles slowly lift your legs to a 90-degree angle. Keep your knees straight and flex your feet towards the ceiling. Hold for a moment, exhale and slowly lower your legs back down. Repeat.

30 minutes of cardio – walking at a fast pace, running, biking, rowing, swimming, and cycling are great ways to get your heart rate up. High-intensity workouts like Zumba dissolve abdominal fat quickly and help improve cardiovascular fitness, lower cholesterol, and lower blood sugar levels.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises – this is usually a combination of 30 seconds of intense activity and 30 seconds of rest before moving on to the next activity. Exercises may include jumping jacks, push-ups, jump squats, and high knees. You can repeat the sequence several times to get the maximum benefit.

Weight and strength training – these exercises use weights, resistance bands, suspension equipment, and even your own weight. Strength training reduces body fat and increases muscle strength.

Note that incorporating exercise into your daily routine is a fantastic way to burn unwanted abdominal fat. While it is important to perform at least 30 minutes of exercise a day it is extremely important to get recommendations for customized exercise. Consult your health provider about your exercise routine that will help reduce abdominal fat.

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