Mayo Clinic Warns of a Bulging Belly | News

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- A new study by Mayo Clinic outlines bad news for those carrying around extra weight in your mid-section. Mayo says that may worse than being obese.

It's one of the main reason people head to the gym.

"Every client that I have asks about belly fat and how to reduce it," said trainer Erin Gibbons.

That dreaded belly fat may not just be unwanted, but downright dangerous.

A mayo clinic study found those with belly fat may be more at risk of dying than those who are obese.

The study followed more than 12 thousand people over fourteen years and found that people with a large hip to waist ratio were nearly three times more likely to die. Even people with a normal body mass, but with a large mid-section were more at risk than the obese.

"I think that people just tend to carry it there, you can't choose where you carry your weight," said Gibbons.

Shrinking the midsection is hard work.

"You can't really spot reduce, you can't choose where you want to lose it," said Gibbons.

There are some everyday things that people can do to fight the belly fat. One of them is as simple as taking the stairs.

"Any movement helps, walking up hills, the stairs, and jumping rope," said Gibbons.

Mayo Clinic says these findings prove it's important for people to know where their fat is distributed, even if they have a healthy weight. That can be done with a simple waist to hip measurement.

Trainers say during a workout some core focused exercises can help.

"The core needs to be extremely strong for everyday things, it's really important to try to focus on it," said Gibbons.

Of the deaths the study looked at nearly half were cardio vascular related.