As summer approaches, don’t settle for another season of belly flops

Trying to lose that beer belly for summer? Start with an obvious less-is-more approach.

“To lose a beer belly you have to stop drinking beer, eat less food and exercise more,” says Dr. Robert Dimeff, who leads primary care sports medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “It’s where most men store their fat, especially as they age.”

Abdominal- and back-targeting exercises such as trunk rotations and roman curls using kettlebells or medicine balls are effective, says Dr. Dimeff.

“The right balance of trunk exercise is important,” he says. “Most of the abdominal muscles start in the back and wrap around to the front, and so you have to do a variety of strengthening exercises.”

Visit www.utsouthwestern.org/ortho to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in orthopaedics, including sports medicine.

Media Contact: Russell Rian