There is no magic bullet to melt away belly fat that always works

DEAR DR. ROACH

>> I am a 70-yearold woman, mostly healthy (apart from well-controlled high blood pressure).

Looking at me, people assume I am skinny, but I have a well-concealed HUGE belly along with my thin arms and legs.

I look like an olive stuck with toothpicks.

My diet is healthy for the most part: I eat snack foods, deep-fried fast foods or sweets only rarely.

I have read about how to eliminate belly fat, but there is so much contradictory info, each claiming to be the best.

What are truly effective ways to help eliminate belly fat? — M.H.

ANSWER >> First, I would want to be sure what you have really is belly fat. While there are men (and a few women) who have that body shape due to fat, I have seen far too many cases of liver disease (where the abdominal cavity is filled with fluid due to high pressure in the liver) and ovarian cancer (where the abdomen is filled with fluid due to tumor). What works for someone else (even your twin sister, if you had one) might not work for you.

I would want to be sure you had been evaluated for these (and other) concerns, especially if this is a change in your normal body shape.

If it is abdominal fat, there is no magic diet.

What works for someone else (even your twin sister, if you had one) might not work for you.

For this reason, one single type of diet does not fit all.

It may take patience and trying several different options before finding what works for you.

General advice includes avoiding the foods you noted you eat sparingly.

Eat lots of vegetables and whole grains with fiber; modest amounts of fruits; several servings of nuts and fish weekly; and no more than modest amounts of meats.

Advice from an expert in weight management may be of great benefit.

Contact Dr. Roach at ToYourGoodHealth@med. cornell.edu.