For losing weight, it can be beneficial to reduce your carb intake.
Low-carb diets can cause belly fat loss in overweight people and people at risk of type 2 diabetes ( 31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source).
It doesn’t mean you have to eat a low-carb diet. Research suggests that replacing refined carbohydrates with unprocessed starchy carbohydrates may increase metabolic health and decrease belly fat ( 35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).
The Framingham Heart Study found that people who ate whole grains were 17% less likely than those who ate a diet high in refined grains (36 Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
Excessive belly fat is linked to a high intake of refined carbohydrates. Reduce your carb intake and replace refined carbs with whole grains, legumes, and vegetables.
