Having a larger waistline is linked to a whole host of risks, including higher propensity for heart disease and diabetes. And while it isn’t possible to directly target belly fat through exercise and diet, there are some steps you can take to facilitate overall fat loss, resulting in a reduction of dangerous visceral fat. Today’s guest, Thomas DeLauer, is an expert in the realm of diet and nutrition. His popular YouTube channel has amassed millions of subscribers with the mission of helping folks implement realistic and sustainable habits to optimize their health. On this episode of The Model Health Show, he’s diving into the science behind losing belly fat. You’re going to learn the critical mechanisms behind belly fat, including the role of hormones, calories, macronutrients, and more. You’ll hear about the best types of exercise for reducing fat, how to simplify your diet for better body composition, and a whole lot more. Thomas has a wealth of knowledge in this space, and I hope you enjoy this interview. In this episode you’ll discover: What central adiposity is. The difference between visceral fat and belly fat. What the main culprits of visceral adiposity are. How cortisol works in relation to belly fat. Why so many people are skinny fat. How trans fats are created, and how the body breaks them down. The connection between leaky gut and inflammation. What you need to know about trans fats in our food supply. Why both excess sugar and excess fat can cause elevated blood sugar levels. How the liver stores and utilizes glycogen. Why processed foods create the perfect storm for accumulating belly fat. The mechanisms behind how the body burns fat. Which types of exercise are best for burning belly fat. The truth about spot reduction. What LISS is, and how to utilize it. Thomas’ story of transforming his health. The first thing you should do daily to start your day off right. A meal prep tip to help you simplify your life. How to create an environment that facilitates healthy choices. Items mentioned in this episode include: DrinkLMNT.com/model -- Get a FREE sample pack with any order! HVMN.com/model -- Save 30% on your first subscription order of Ketone-IQ! EatSmarterCookbook.com Connect with Thomas DeLauer Website / Instagram / YouTube Join TMHS Facebook community - Model Nation  Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes:  Apple Podcasts Stitcher Spotify Soundcloud   Thanks To Our Sponsors   This episode is brought to you by LMNT. Now, one of the most essential things that enables our cells to literally talk to each other, that enables signal transduction are electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge. Now, there's a certain electrolyte that has gotten drag through the media, through popular culture and really framed as a villain, and that electrolyte is sodium. Now, according to the FDA, over 70% of the sodium in the average American's diet is coming from ultra-processed fake foods. It's coming from ultra-processed foods, from things like Pop-Tarts and potato chips, and the list goes on and on, fast foods. This is where we're getting the bulk of our sodium intake, very low quality sodium and really a one-trick pony because there isn't just one type of electrolyte or one type of sodium. Sodium is one form of a salt. There's also potassium salts, there's also magnesium salts. There's many forms of magnesium, many forms of sodium. That highly refined sodium found in ultra-processed foods, that can be problematic, absolutely. But what happens when we start to shift away from having a diet largely made up of these ultra-processed foods and we're eating more real foods? Are we certain that we're getting the sodium that our cells really need to have a high level of communication and also to protect our metabolic health? Because a meta-analysis published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews uncovered that study participants placed on a low sodium di