ditch the Crunches: Strength Training is key to Losing Belly Fat, Says Expert
Many focus on rapid fixes – running, restrictive diets, endless sit-ups – to reduce abdominal fat, especially as warmer weather approaches. However, according to Dr. Isabel Belaustegui, a physician and expert in nutrition and metabolism from the Autonomous University of Madrid, these methods are often ineffective. “Doing sit-ups does not help to eliminate the belly,” she asserts.
Dr. Belaustegui, who shares evidence-based health details through her “Potential Life” project (originally launched on YouTube and now operating independently since 2024), and is the author of Optimize Your Metabolism and The Healthy metabolism Diet, advocates for a different approach: strength training.
She explains that a “stubborn belly” isn’t simply an aesthetic concern, but a symptom of an underlying metabolic issue. The core problem lies in metabolic flexibility – the body’s ability to efficiently switch between using glucose and fat for energy. When sugar consumption dominates, the body can develop insulin resistance, hindering weight loss, promoting chronic inflammation, and increasing the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
“The only way to lose belly is to do strength training,” Dr. Belaustegui states firmly. Exercises like squats, pull-ups, and deadlifts trigger hormonal responses that are far more effective at mobilizing fat reserves than customary cardio, offering greater results with the same effort.
Strength training, defined as working with external loads – dumbbells, weights, resistance bands, or kettlebells – focuses on both building strength and developing muscle mass. Examples include lunges, squats, deadlifts, chest presses, and leg presses.
Dr.Belaustegui emphasizes the vital role of muscle in overall health, stating that having good muscles is an infallible indicator to know our state of health. She clarifies that muscle is far more than just a means of movement, offering benefits on multiple levels. ultimately,she argues,addressing metabolic health through strength training is the most effective path to reducing abdominal fat and improving overall well-being.
