HOW TO GET RID OF AN APRON BELLY

An overhanging belly isn't just frustrating, it can also make you prone to infections and posture problems. Here are three ways to shift it

- LIBBY GALVIN

IF YOU'VE had pregnancies that stretched your stomach or you've lost a lot of weight, you might have been left with what's not- so-charmingly referred to as an apron belly. And you've probably wondered if there's anything you can do about it.

Whether yours is more of a cosmetic concern or whether it's large enough to cause you pain and diffi- culty dressing and exercising, there are ways to manage and even resolve it.

WHAT IS AN APRON BELLY?

Stomach overhang, also called an apron belly, is a medically recognised condition where excess fat and skin form a flap that hangs down from the lower abdomen. It is properly referred to as an abdominal pannus or panniculus.

"Essentially it's an overhanging bit of skin at the bottom of the abdomen that has lost its elasticity and cannot shrink back after weight loss," explains consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon William van Niekerk.

"Usually there is still some stubborn fat associated with it, but not always" It's most commonly seen in women who have carried children or lost a lot of weight, but can also be an issue for men who have undergone significant weight loss.

The condition can vary in severity from a small sagging overhang to a drooping apron of flesh which can cover the pubic area and reach as far as mid-thigh or even to the knees in serious cases.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

CARRYING A BABY

“You can develop it to some degree just from going through pregnancy,” explains Van Niekerk.

“Some women experience weight gain along with pregnancy, but just the baby bulge and no other real weight gain can stretch the abdominal skin beyond a certain level of tolerance.