any woman can get a muffin top. but women are more likely to gain excess belly weight -- especially deep inside the belly -- as they go through perimenopause and into menopause when their menstrual cycle ends. that's because as estrogen levels drop body fat is redistributed from the hips thighs and buttocks (where it used to be stored as a fuel reserve for breastfeeding) to the abdomen. developing a pooch of subcutaneous (below the skin) fat -- what i call the "menopot" -- is perfectly normal. but if you gain more than 2 to 5 pounds it's likely to go deeper into the abdomen creating too much visceral fat. you need some fat in your belly but when it becomes excessive i call it "toxic fat. " that's because excessive amounts of visceral fat increase inflammation in the body and ultimately contribute to several conditions including heart disease diabetes and cancer.
when is a "muffin top " extra belly fat dangerous?