According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 59% of American adults are "abdominal obese." In other words, belly fat, which is the kind that accumulates around your internal organs like the stomach, liver, and kidneys.
According to studies, women with the largest waists are more than twice as likely to develop heart disease as those with healthy waist circumferences (less than half your height at the belly button, as you suck in).
Consciously control your stress reaction. Weight gain is encouraged by stress hormones, and improper eating is a popular form of coping. Techniques for reducing stress that are effective include yoga, meditation, exercise, and talk therapy.