Pot belly is a term commonly used to refer to abdominal or central obesity, a condition in which there is an outward protrusion of the belly; or an increased diameter of the lower abdomen, resulting from excessive accumulation of fat in the mid-section and a ballooning out of the intestines.
It is a health hazard that is viewed in our environment as evidence of arrival of wealth or good living.
Obesity, as a broad term, refers to a Body Mass Index above 30 and is fast becoming an epidemic in the modern world. It is one of the leading direct and indirect causes of ill health and death among the general population all over the world.
A pot belly results from continuous deposit and accumulation of fat tissue in the inner organs and the intestines, to such a degree as to have negative impact on the general health of the individual concerned.
Often, a build-up of toxic fecal matter in the colon over time also contributes to ever-widening abdominal girth, which is labelled ‘pot belly.’ The Austrian scientist and holistic physician, Dr. Franz Xaver Mayr, describes the resulting abnormal posture of such individual as “the big bass drum player” posture.
It is worthy of note that abdominal obesity is not necessarily peculiar to overweight or obese individuals, as people with apparent normal weight may have unhealthy abdominal girth/ waistline and would therefore be regarded as having a pot belly.
It is equally worthy of note that abdominal fat in obesity is far more dangerous to general health than fat found under the skin and fat found in skeletal muscles.
Health hazards of pot belly
Abdominal obesity has been linked to several health conditions, including hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome X (Reaven’s disease), Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, erectile dysfunction, certain cancers, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Generally, the causes of obesity also factor in as causes of pot belly/abdominal obesity, and they include:
Diet: The way most people eat is at odds with the needs of the body. Obesity often results from net energy imbalance, in which the individual eats and stores more fat than s/he expends in energy on normal daily activities. Improper dietary habit as regards regimen (time of day when meals are ingested), content (quality of ingested food) and technique (poor chewing habits, especially the so called ‘swallow’) result in fermentation and decay of undigested food, steady deposit of abdominal fat and slackening of the intestines which, over time, results in a pot belly.
Genetic predisposition: Some individuals are said to be deficient in leptin – a hormone produced by fat cells which tells a person when he or she is full and should top eating. When you are deficient in leptin, you are more likely to overeat and become obese.
Cushing’s syndrome: This is a hormonal disorder caused by high levels of cortisol, with symptoms such as upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, thinning arms and legs, fatigue, weakness, high blood pressure, and mood disorders.
Medications: Steroids, such as dexamethasone.
Chronic constipation/irregular bowel movement: This leads to build-up of toxic fecal matter in the colon, the decomposition of which leads to release of such toxins as putrescine, neurine and cadaverine. These are re-absorbed into the blood stream in a process referred to as intestinal auto-intoxification in Mayr medicine.
Detoxification helps
Detoxification is the physiologic or medicinal removal of toxic substances from the body of a living organism. In humans, detoxification is chiefly carried out by the liver and to a lesser degree, the skin, kidneys and lungs. However, in people with abdominal obesity, the liver is often overworked and over-loaded, hence the need for detoxification.
Such individuals usually require an overhauling of their dietary habit, thorough cleansing of the intestines using medical solutions and herbal teas, the colon through colon hydrotherapy and irrigation; as well as toning up of the inevitably slack guts which put pressure on the pelvic organs and the spine, using the technique of Mayr abdominal therapy. These can be achieved via supervised detoxification.
Detoxification also rids the intestines of parasites and worms which contribute to ill health and death. Combined with relaxation and regimented physical exercise, detoxification helps to:
Lose excess weight/fat. The individual undergoing detoxification soon observes a steady weight loss, which is most noticeable around the mid-section. This is because fat in the internal organs is more metabolically active and gets broken down faster than fat in the tissues.
Instill a healthy eating habit which arms the individual with lifelong knowledge of correct diet, proper chewing techniques and regular exercise/relaxation methods.
Greatly reduce a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, infertility and other conditions that have been linked with pot belly.
Improve physical appearance and skin tone. A person’s physical appearance is often a good indicator of their state of health. Detoxification helps improve skin tone and generally beautify physical appearance.
Engender personal confidence, inner peace and feeling of well-being. It is recommended that people should annually rid the body of toxins in a health therapy protocol.
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