There are a lot of researched facts that are floating around regarding obesity and belly fat these days. So many people are affected by Obesity in the United States it's almost frightening, about 1/2 of this country is. Even countries in the European Union are affected by this. People all over the world are finally starting to wake up and realize what a true epidemic this problem really is.
When you are obese fat aggregates around major parts of your body like your stomach, legs, arms and chest which in and of itself becomes an immediate health hazard. People who can't control their weight also experience other problems which are physical and psychological. You generally will have less energy, be more prone to a heart attack or a stroke and your self-esteem will be lower. The US media is always advocating the thin good looking person and they show these people even in junk food commercials.
People hold belly fat for a variety of reasons. One of them is because they choose to not exercise like they should. Living a sedentary lifestyle can be downright dangerous and is certainly not healthy. Most people can jump in their vehicles these days to get everywhere they need to go. Have you ever considered taking the bus instead, even if it's just once in a while. Even a walk to the bus stop is good exercise. Also some overweight folks are victims of certain genetic disorders such as malfunctioning thyroid glands.
There are proactive steps you can take to combat belly fat that is accumulating throughout your body. The first thing you can do is to start exercising regularly. Yes your doctors probably preach this to you when you step in their office but do you take them seriously? You can also try getting a membership to the local fitness center in your area. This will cost a few bucks but they usually have equipment that will let you target specific parts of your body plus great cardio equipment as well. Also certain calistenics like push-ups and sit-ups work great, or even crunches.