Sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity

One of the main risk factors for poor health outcomes is a sedentary lifestyle. It involves spending the entire day sitting down (e.g., watching TV, sitting at a work desk, long commutes, playing video games, etc.). Prolonged sitting can increase the risk of adverse health outcomes and weight gain even if a person is physically active, which is defined as engaging in physical labor or exercise.

Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle have been linked to a direct increase in both visceral and subcutaneous belly fat. Fortunately, frequent physical exercise and avoiding prolonged periods of sitting will help you maintain your weight while reducing your risk of developing more belly fat. According to one study, people who exercised for a year after losing weight were able to avoid gaining visceral fat, but those who did not exercise saw a 25–38% increase in belly fat.