7 Foods That Cause Belly Fat Buildup

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

Dr. Constance Odom, MD

About

Constance Tambakis Odom, MD graduated in 1987 with her Doctorate of Medicine from the New York Medical College, and was an Anesthesiologist Resident from 1988 to 1991 at the Brookdale Medical Center PGY II (CA-I)-PGY IV (CA-III). She is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology since 1998 and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine since 2002. Constance Odom, MD is affiliated with the American Medical Association, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Society of Anesthesiology, Georgia Society of Anesthesiology, Hellenic Medical Society of New York, North Carolina Society of Anesthesiology, and Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia.

Credentials

Medical Director At:

• Nu Image Medical
• MetroMedispa P.A.

Staff Anesthesiologist at:

• Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, NC
• Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, NC
• Duplin General Hospital in Kenansville, NC

Director of Anesthesia Services at:

• Jacksonville Surgery Center in Jacksonville, NC

Written by our editorial team.

Last Edited 8 years ago · 6 min read

If you're worried about belly fat like most of us are, there are several foods that cause belly fat that you should avoid at all costs. Several foods can lead to inflammation, create metabolic syndrome, affect your gut bacteria, lead to insulin resistance, and cause weight gain around your midsection. There are several different foods that can cause this, but a few foods are major offenders that you'll want to always avoid, as well as a few drinks. In general, high carbohydrate foods, or carbohydrate dense foods are bad to eat, especially refined carbohydrates. Refined sugar and corn syrup also directly cause belly fat gain. If you want to keep your midsection lean, avoid these foods and replace them with whole foods or fruits and vegetables

Food #1 - Carbohydrate rich foods

Foods that are rich in carbohydrates are some of the worst offenders when it comes to belly fat gain. These foods can definitely make you sick if you eat them over a long period of time. Some examples include bagels, pasta, bread, crackers, cupcakes, and pretty much any food made with refined grains. These foods lead to insulin resistance, can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to gluten and can raise your inflammation levels.

By causing inflammation, these foods make it easier for your body to store fat around your midsection and in other areas. They are some of the worst offenders for belly fat so be sure to avoid them and replace them with healthy alternatives like vegetables, or minimize your intake of them as much as possible, especially if you are trying to lose weight.

Food #2 - High fructose corn syrup

Several studies have found that high fructose corn syrup leads to obesity, and the fact that it can be found in thousands of processed foods, condiments, desserts, drinks and other foods means that it can easily sneak its way into your diet. For example, most barbeque sauce and ketchup is made with high fructose corn syrup, and it's also in pretty much every soft drink that's out there. Studies have found that it leads to weight gain [1] as a result of the difference in the metabolism of fructose. Fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion or stimulate leptin production, and when large quantities of it are produced it provides a large amount of energy for fat production in the liver.

Food #3 - Fruit juice

Fruit juice is one of the worst offenders when it comes to belly fat gain and overall weight gain. Although it may seem harmless, fruit juice has been found to be associated with obesity in young children. A study found that the high fructose and sucrose content of apple juice [2], can lead to weight gain. The effect is worsened when the fruit juice is sweetened with extra sugar or other sweeteners. In general, when you are trying to keep the weight off your midsection you don't just want to replace soda with fruit juice, but you should avoid pretty much any drink that has sugar, because of how easy it is to consume liquid sugar with the fiber that you would normally get in whole fruit.

Food #4 - French fries and potatoes

French fries can easily lead to belly fat gain because of the high calorie content, fat, and starch. French fries are often made with unhealthy oils, and they used to be made with trans fats before restaurants started to switch over to healthier oils. A study by Harvard [3] found that people who ate more potatoes in the form of French fries or potato chips were likely to gain weight. French fry consumption in particular was linked to the largest amount of weight gain, over 3.3 pounds in a 4 year period of time on average.

Food #5 - Diet drinks and foods

Diet drinks and foods are usually flavored with artificial sweeteners, and studies have found that they can be just as bad as sugar if not worse. Sweeteners like aspartame can increase your insulin resistance more than sugar, which means that they can lead to diabetes and other chronic illnesses. The issue comes with the effect that occurs when you consume something that tastes sweet but doesn't have calories. Your brain still thinks that you've eaten something sweet, and your body responds by increasing insulin production. But when your body doesn't get the calories, it will continue to signal that you are hungry, and it can increase your appetite which in turn leads to more calorie consumption and weight gain.

Food #6 - Pizza

Pizza is one of the worst foods to eat because of the high carb content and fat, and although pizza can be healthier when it's made the right way, most pizza isn't really made the right way. Pizza has a high carbohydrate content which leads to weight gain like many of the other foods mentioned. When pizza is made with thicker crust the effect is worse. Having a piece of pizza every now and then won't cause weight gain for most people, but when you are trying to lose belly fat you definitely won't want to eat pizza very often. Thin crust has fewer calories and when it's made with low fat cheese and lots of vegetables it isn't the worst food in the world, but it will still cause weight gain and you should be aware of this.

Food #7 - Natural sweeteners

Using natural sweeteners like agave nectar, date sugar or honey isn't healthy, even though they are much better than artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners are still easily converted into fat, can spike your blood glucose levels, and can lead to weight gain when you consume enough of them. When you aren't trying to lose weight they are usually okay for most people to consume in small amounts, but when you are trying to lose belly fat or weight they should be avoided at all costs. Stevia is by far one of the best sweeteners because it doesn't have the harmful effects on your metabolism that artificial sweeteners have, but it still is natural and doesn't add excess calories to your diet. So try stevia as your main sweetener, and in general avoid most natural artificial sweeteners altogether when you are trying to lose weight.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.