About Tight Abs

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about one third of Americans are classified as obese, defined as having a body mass index BMI of more than 30. This means that over 72 million people are sporting more than the healthy amount of visceral fat. Therefore, although the stomach doesn't have to be flat for good health, there are many people that far exceed that healthy belly measurement. To begin a journey to a tighter abs and healthier life, you must first understand what tight abs really are.

Misconceptions

• In short, it is the excess fat in the area that causes health issues. Furthermore, obesity is measured by BMI, but this is not a measure of belly fat. BMI is based on height and weight measurements only. Although it is a good measure of obesity and strongly correlates with body fat content, which includes belly fat, a low BMI is in no way a good measure of a flat belly. BMI should not be your guide as you work toward tight abs. Use waistline measurement instead. To do these calculations, find a pencil, paper (or calculator) and a tailor-style tape measure. Measure the size of your waist and divide that by your height in inches. This is the waist to height ratio.The ideal ratio is below 50 percent. You can also measure you waist to hip ratio, another indicator of healthy and unhealthy belly fat. Simply divide your waist measurements by your hip measurements in inches. Women need a ratio of less than 70 percent and men 90 percent. Achieving these numbers will not give you tight abs, but you will have a healthy belly.

History

• Tight abs have been disappearing from the American landscape since 1980. The CDC estimates that the number of obese adults have doubled since then, and the number of obese kids has tripled in the same time period. Health professionals do not overlook the fact that the popularity of computers, video games and cable television--all sedentary activities--has also risen over the years. In fact, in 2007 the CDC conducted a telephone survey on the amount of exercise that adults engage in daily. The highest category was 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity, vigorous to moderate, performed five times or more a week. This level of activity creates tight abs; however only half of the participants in the poll engaged in this level of activity.

Features

• Tight abs are those with very little visceral fat. Tight abs also consists of toned abdominal muscles, which are sometimes shown in the form of a "six-pack." They are achieved through rigorous exercise and diet. Because of this, the bearer of tight abs is usually very healthy. Such health is achieved by intense cardiovascular (cardio) workouts such as walking, running and any other activity that allows you to move rapidly and break a sweat. Supplement the cardio workouts with core strengthening exercises such as crunches and Pilates.

Considerations

• When trying to get tight abs, first see your doctor. A medical professional can give you a healthy regime to follow to achieve a flatter stomach. The exercise regimen that leads to tight abs is often too rigorous for someone coming from a sedentary lifestyle. At least 20 minute of vigorous exercise or 30 minutes of moderate exercise is needed five times a week or more. A sedentary person cannot make this transition effortlessly. In addition, the body may be shocked by the increased activity, which can lead to issues such as heart attacks or strokes. Working under close monitoring by your doctor will ensure that you lose the belly fat in a way that does not further damage the body. Prepare yourself for a long journey toward tight abs--maybe even a lifestyle change--as any successful regime takes time to complete.

Warning

• Avoid diets and programs that claim to give you tight abs quickly and with purportedly little effort. These claims are either false or are fulfilled through methods that can be hazardous to your health. Instead, see your doctor and prepare for a lifestyle change to reach your goal.