"Now that I'm in my 40s, no matter how much I exercise, I can't lose my belly fat."

Our body's system changes rapidly once we reach our 40s. No matter how much we exercise, muscles do not easily grow, while the rate at which muscle turns into fat accelerates, leading many men and women to complain about thick belly fat.

As the intake of refined carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated fats increases, the calorie consumption of modern people rises sharply while their activity levels gradually decrease, which is also a problem. In particular

Women going through menopause are prone to developing a "spider-shaped body" with an enlarged abdomen due to the accumulation of visceral fat caused by decreased secretion of female hormones. Abdominal obesity can lead to complications such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver, so careful management is necessary.

◇Mediterranean diet helps improve obesity

So, what should be changed first to lose belly fat? Experts unanimously agree that a balanced diet is the key above all. Among them, experts emphasize that following the Mediterranean diet, which was named the world's best diet by the U.S. News & World Report for six consecutive years from 2018 to 2023, is not only effective for reducing belly fat but also beneficial in preventing chronic diseases caused by obesity.

The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating from Mediterranean coastal countries that emphasizes healthy ingredients such as vegetables, olive oil, fish, and meat, balancing carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and including essential amino acids and essential fatty acids.