Dietitians claim that your eating habits are secretly increasing your abdominal fat.

As the weather warms up, it appears that many people want to set new healthy goals. If you're attempting to drop a few pounds, especially around your stomach, you might benefit from knowing about some "hidden" eating habits that contribute to additional abdominal fat—the kind you wouldn't even notice.

Losing belly fat is a goal that can help you avoid further health problems. That's because belly fat, also known as visceral fat, forms around your abdominal organs and, if held for a long time, can lead to diabetes and heart disease.

1.Using fatty salad dressings.

Making a fresh, hearty salad is a terrific way to enjoy the warmer weather. However, according to dietitians, many salad dressings can sneak in extra fat, sugar, and calories without us even realising it.
For the warmer months, preparing a fresh, substantial salad is a good option. Certain salad dressings, however, according to dietitians, might sneak in extra fat, sugar, and calories without us even realising it.

"Many of us resort to salads for a healthy meal, especially when trying to lose belly fat," explains Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, of Balance One Supplements. "However, high-fat salad dressings may increase rather than decrease belly fat. This applies to both homemade and fast-food or store-bought salads. Ranch salad dressings typically have around 130 calories per 2 tablespoons, which is usually less than what is used. This salad dressing choice contains 13 grammes of fat.

2.Choosing poor-quality yogurt.

Yogurt has a variety of health benefits, but not all types of yoghurt are made equal.

"The quality of yoghurt has a big role in whether it helps or hurts your weight loss efforts," adds Best. "High-fat yoghurts, as well as yoghurts with added sugar and other sweeteners, can contribute to belly fat. Prior to purchasing, check the nutritious profile of your yoghurt and choose one that is either plain or produced with natural sugars. You'll also want to look for one with a greater protein content, since this will help you stay fuller for longer and avoid overeating."

3.Stressing out and getting poor sleep.

While not technically a "eating habit," poor sleep and a high level of stress can have an impact on your eating patterns and food choices throughout the day.

According to Young, "stress can increase belly fat in part due to increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol."

"When you're anxious, overeating the incorrect meals is typical, and a lack of sleep can also affect your mood, leading to many people overeating high-sugar, high-fat processed foods."

4.consuming a lot of ultra-processed foods

Processed foods can contribute to belly obesity quickly, but dietitians believe portion sizes are also important.

"Excess belly fat can be caused by processed foods that are heavy in sugar, salt, and fat," explains Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and a member of our medical expert board. "Recent research shows that portion sizes of fast food and packaged items like chocolate and soda are still up to 5 times larger than they were in the past, which can contribute to increasing belly obesity."

5.consuming large amounts of peanut butter

While nut butter has a lot of health benefits, it's still crucial to control your portion sizes if you're attempting to lose belly fat.

"Peanut butter is a nutrient-dense food," adds Best, "but not all types are developed with the same nutritional profile." "To enhance flavour and texture, some manufacturers employ additional ingredients such as sugar, honey, or even chocolate. This causes a rapid increase in the number of calories and fat in a single serving of peanut butter."

"Second," Best writes, "even natural peanut butter should be used in moderation." "When we encounter the term 'natural,' we often believe that the food item can be consumed without regard for serving sizes or quantities. Peanut butter has both of these properties, making it a food that could be causing your belly fat loss to halt or even contribute to weight gain in this area."