# Non fatty pot belly? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 1, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880 "2007-11-01T15:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tibidabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@Tibidabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibidabo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/1 "2007-11-01T15:43:54Z")
> [@](#): > > In order to be succeed at thinning your waistline, you have to get a basic under standing of how the abdominal muscles function and how your body burns fat. > > The first thing that you need to understand is the difference between fat and muscle tissue. Fat is created by eating excess calories and it is primarily stored in layers on top of your muscles. Muscle tissue consists of fibers that contract to produce movement. > > Fat can’t turn into muscle, and muscle can’t turn into fat. But you can lose muscle mass while you gain fat. That’s what happens to most people, especially as they begin to get a little older. > > So if your goal is a trim waist line and a nice flat stomach, the first thing you need to do is remove the layers of fat that are sitting on top of your abs. Everyone has a flat stomach. It’s just that some of them are covered with excess fat. This all makes sense, but it got me thinking about an old judo instructor of mine. He had a big pot belly, but it wasn’t fat, it was rock hard. What’s the deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/2 "2007-11-01T15:48:47Z")
[QUOTE=Tibidabo] This all makes sense, but it got me thinking about an old judo instructor of mine. He had a big pot belly, but it wasn’t fat, it was rock hard. What’s the deal with that? [/QUOTE] A non-fat pot belly has a few causes. Ascites, which is excess abdominal fluid, an enlarged liver, or a combination of both come to mind (ascites is usually a sign of a failing liver). ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/3 "2007-11-01T15:52:56Z")
Okay, first, whoever wrote the article you quoted was misinformed. Abdominal fat can be stored one of two ways: viscerally or subcutaneous. Subcutaneous fat is store under the top layers of skin. It’s actually a part of the skin. Depending on how much you weight and how much fat you’re carrying, that subcutaneous layer could be anywhere from a fraction of an inch to several inches thick. It’s usually the fat we think of when we consider jiggly thighs and cellulite. It is fat stored for long term. Visceral fat is stored around the organs in the abdominal cavity. It is short term storage. In a healthy individual with low BMI, the areas of visceral fat are very small. In a person who has a large paunch, the areas of visceral fat can be inches thick. Men tend to store more fat viscerally than women. Visceral fat also responds quickly to changes in diet and exercise, which is one of the reasons why men tend to lose weight more quickly than women. Either way, if you don’t have the six pack of your dreams, the answer is to lose weight, which will decrease first the visceral fat and then the subcutaneous fat. ---
**Author:** ![Tibidabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@Tibidabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibidabo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/4 "2007-11-01T16:01:27Z")
Thanks **Phouka** , so was this guy likely to have had one of the conditions **VunderBob** mentioned? I gather visceral fat would still be soft, no? ---
**Author:** ![Chasing\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/5 "2007-11-01T16:19:06Z")
Another reason for a distended, hard belly is because of drug use. If the guy is taking human growth hormones like a lot of body builders do, then he will get the distended belly that can be seen on a lot of body builders. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/6 "2007-11-01T16:20:36Z")
The simplest explanation is that it was just very densely packed subcutaneous fat. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/7 "2007-11-01T16:34:08Z")
I hope someone can come up with a definitive answer for this. I am very muscular all over but I have a beer gut. I have never taken steroids or muscle promoting hormones in my life. My BG is very hard probably because in trying to get rid of it I started doing thousands of crunches,situps etc many years ago. I do drink a lot of beer but even when I’ve been unable to drink alcohol for long periods for whatever reason(being in a Muslim country usually)it doesn’t go away. Anyone who has a solution will have my eternal gratitude. ---
**Author:** ![Chasing\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/8 "2007-11-01T16:42:46Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] I hope someone can come up with a definitive answer for this. I am very muscular all over but I have a beer gut. … Anyone who has a solution will have my eternal gratitude. [/QUOTE] How about getting a CAT scan and seeing what is making it so big on the inside? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/9 "2007-11-01T17:23:02Z")
Haven’t recent studies shown that visceral fat is more dangerous than the rolly kind? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/10 "2007-11-01T17:24:31Z")
What about the starving children you see in third world countries who have distended bellies? What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Chasing\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/11 "2007-11-01T17:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=Zoggie] What about the starving children you see in third world countries who have distended bellies? What’s up with that? [/QUOTE] I believe they have gas in the belly from not having enough to eat. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/12 "2007-11-01T17:38:25Z")
Does having out-of-shape, virtually tone-less abs contribute to the problem the OP describes, or is that just something someone who wanted to sell me a gym membership told me? ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/13 "2007-11-01T19:04:38Z")
[QUOTE=Chasing Dreams] I believe they have gas in the belly from not having enough to eat. [/QUOTE] Nope. **Zoggie** is probably thinking of [kwashiorkor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor), which is mostly caused by protein deficiency (though there seems to be more than that involved, at least according to Wikipedia). One of the symptoms is ascites (mentioned above), meaning their abdomens are full of fluid, not gas. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/14 "2007-11-01T19:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=lazybratsche] Nope. **Zoggie** is probably thinking of [kwashiorkor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor), which is mostly caused by protein deficiency (though there seems to be more than that involved, at least according to Wikipedia). One of the symptoms is ascites (mentioned above), meaning their abdomens are full of fluid, not gas. [/QUOTE] I think that’s what I was thinking of. Thanks. It’s a sad condition… ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/15 "2007-11-01T19:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] I do drink a lot of beer but even when I’ve been unable to drink alcohol for long periods for whatever reason(being in a Muslim country usually)it doesn’t go away. [/QUOTE] Think about these 2 things 1. Apparently you’re doing a lot of resistance exercise, is your recovery food a correctly calculated amount of squeaky-clean protein, or are you just thinking “I just worked out a lot, so I’m going to eat whatever I wish”. When you pile on the heavy exercise, you have to think more about how you’re satisfying your appetite, not less. 2. Stop drinking the beer. It sure as isn’t helping. I don’t know the story behind the mysterious muslim countries, but have a good long think about what else you were doing there… were you replacing the comfort of beer with sodas or extra food? Were you doing the typical rear-echelon military duty of sitting around waiting for something to happen? Think hard, be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/16 "2007-11-01T20:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=Cosmic Relief] Think about these 2 things 1. Apparently you’re doing a lot of resistance exercise, is your recovery food a correctly calculated amount of squeaky-clean protein, or are you just thinking “I just worked out a lot, so I’m going to eat whatever I wish”. When you pile on the heavy exercise, you have to think more about how you’re satisfying your appetite, not less. 2. Stop drinking the beer. It sure as isn’t helping. I don’t know the story behind the mysterious muslim countries, but have a good long think about what else you were doing there… were you replacing the comfort of beer with sodas or extra food? Were you doing the typical rear-echelon military duty of sitting around waiting for something to happen? Think hard, be honest. [/QUOTE] I will actually start thinking about what I eat after excercise now,I must admit thatI’ve always eaten whatever usually. I’ve thought jolly hard and I think that I’m not actually guilty of doing the typical rear echelon thing ,I and the other chaps try very hard to keep ourselves busy when we’re not actually stacking blankets or writing out reports and things etc. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/17 "2007-11-01T20:57:15Z")
[QUOTE=lazybratsche] Nope. **Zoggie** is probably thinking of [kwashiorkor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor), which is mostly caused by protein deficiency (though there seems to be more than that involved, at least according to Wikipedia). One of the symptoms is ascites (mentioned above), meaning their abdomens are full of fluid, not gas. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget about high parasite loads in the intestines causing a distended abdomen. Yum. Also, wouldn’t visceral fat, since it is behind the muscular body wall, present as a firm abdomen instead of a gushy one? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/18 "2007-11-01T21:10:52Z")
[QUOTE=Pullet] Also, wouldn’t visceral fat, since it is behind the muscular body wall, present as a firm abdomen instead of a gushy one? [/QUOTE] Yes, that’s true. I don’t have a cite but I have often read medical professionals saying that the hard pot belly is one of the most dangerous types of fat accumulation to have. Not only do you have the fat but you have compression of the internal organs. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/19 "2007-11-01T21:29:58Z")
[QUOTE=Pullet] Don’t forget about high parasite loads in the intestines causing a distended abdomen. [/QUOTE] Yes, I had giardiasis once and my stomach went like one of those poor starving children you see on videos of famine victims. I farted about once every two minutes, for a week. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880/20 "2007-11-01T22:18:31Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] I farted about once every two minutes, for a week. [/QUOTE] Wait, that’s not normal? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-fatty-pot-belly/424880.md?page=2)