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Said Dr. David Katz, MD, adjunct professor of public health and directorof the Yale Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine,"This diet study is exceptional because few have used MRI to look at theeffects of a particular diet on abdominal fat. It shows the plan not onlysignificantly reduces weight overall, but abdominal fat in particular,including dangerous visceral fat. We also saw impressive reductions incholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation, and insulin resistance."
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Can a diet really target belly fat? Said Katz, "To some degree, yes.Eating fewer calories than you burn will mobilize fat in general. In addition,the kinds of foods prominent in the Flat Belly Diet -- monounsaturated fats,sources of soluble fiber including whole grains, along with fruits, andvegetables -- can help lower insulin and help directly mobilize belly fat."
In April 2008, Prevention commissioned scientists at the Yale UniversityPrevention Research Center to study how the Flat Belly Diet! affects deadlyvisceral fat. The pilot study results, reported in the current (February)issue of Prevention, found that participants lost an average of 8.4 pounds andclose to 2 inches from the waist in 28 days. Total cholesterol dropped anaverage of 21 points (with a 9-point reduction in unhealthy LDL), bringinglipid measurements down to optimal range for some participants. Results alsoshowed a significant decline in the level of fasting insulin, a marker fordiabetes.
"What impressed me was that virtually every measure of health -- fromvisceral fat to blood pressure to cholesterol -- improved in such a shortamount of time. Usually, the longer a study runs, the easier it is to getsignificant results. But this study produced compelling results in just 28days," said Katz.
"There is no question that these changes are clinically as well asstatistically significant," he added. "If the plan and its associated benefitswere sustained over time, these women would be at reduced risk of heartdisease, diabetes, cancer, you name it. Basically, the diet kicked butt -- or,perhaps more appropriately in this case, belly!"
"As much as half of the overall population has too much visceral fat,though many do not know it," said Katz.To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/rodale/36561/
SOURCE Prevention Magazine
