Pot belly but slim? It’s still bad for your heart

Having a pot belly increases your risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause a stroke) even if you are a healthy weight, a study shows.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo, in Japan, studied nearly 1.7 million patients and found that carrying a ‘spare tyre’ increased instances of heart failure by nearly 10 per cent, and atrial fibrillation by 20 per cent, reports European Heart Journal Open.

One theory is that a pot belly indicates there is excess fat being stored around the liver, which is a risk factor for heart problems.