Fat loss, whether around the arms, legs or anywhere else, comes down to burning more calories than you consume. But weight stored around the body's midsection can be particularly difficult to shift, which is why a more strategic approach is often necessary.
Fortunately, burning stubborn belly fat doesn't require gruelling gym sessions or extreme workouts.
Medical experts have found that gentler activities like walking and yoga can effectively help reduce fat around the midsection when paired with the right eating habits.
They note that you can't actually target fat loss in specific areas of your body, however. Hospital doctor Dr Hussain Ahmad, told GB News: "You can't target belly fat through exercise on its own. Your body burns fat systemically, and genetics determine where you lose it first."
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Fortunately, low-intensity exercise does contribute to overall fat reduction, which includes the abdominal area.
"Walking is one of the most underrated options," declared Dr Ahmad, explaining that "a brisk 30-45 minute walk most days creates a calorie deficit when you do it alongside sensible eating".
The key is maintaining the right intensity, as fitness equipment tester Jose Guevara pointed out, "walking at a moderate pace is very effective for burning belly fat because it's a form of zone 2 cardio".
He recommended keeping your pace at "about 60-70 per cent of your maximum heart rate" for optimal fat-burning benefits. This moderate approach means people can sustain it long-term, making it far more likely they'll stick with the routine.
Walking at a moderate pace is very effective for burning belly fat
|GETTY
Yoga might not torch calories like high-intensity workouts, but it plays a clever role in reducing belly fat through stress management.
Dr Ahmad noted that "chronic stress contributes to belly fat through elevated cortisol," making yoga's calming effects particularly valuable.
While some yoga styles do burn more calories than others, the real magic lies in how it supports other lifestyle changes that affect body composition.
Guevara confirmed that "yoga does burn calories and when used in combination with walking and a caloric deficit, can help to burn abdominal fat".
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The benefit of combining walking with yoga is that both activities complement each other perfectly in creating sustainable fat loss.
The experts recommend aiming for 150 to 200 minutes of moderate activity each week for best results.
Dr Ahmad revealed that "realistically visible changes around the midsection take 8-12 weeks, and that's assuming you're also addressing nutrition".
Experts recommend aiming for 150 to 200 minutes of moderate activity
| GETTYHe stressed that "you can't out-exercise poor dietary habits," highlighting how crucial it is to combine exercise with proper eating.
What makes low-intensity exercises particularly effective is their sustainability.
Guevara explained that "the good thing about low intensity exercises (like walking) is that they can be done daily since they're not hard on your joints and don't stress out the nervous system much".
This gentle approach means people can maintain their routine consistently without risking burnout or injury.
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