Belly-Fat Myths That Need to Go Away

It’s no surprise to any of us that abdominal fat is bad for your heart and your lungs, but recent studies show that it's also detrimental to your bones. Scientists used to think overweight people (especially men) had stronger skeletons and were protected against bone loss as they aged. The latest research, however, suggests that visceral fat—the type that surrounds the organs and accumulates around the midsection—is actually associated with lower bone-mineral density in adults of both genders. A 2012 Harvard University study even found a link between stomach fat and osteoporosis in men as young as 34.