5 tips for banishing hidden belly fat

1 Mind your middle. Keep track of your waist-to-hip ratio as well as your body mass index (BMI). Make a note on your calendar to measure your waist and hips every other month or so. If measurements reveal that your waist is wider than your hips, take it as an urgent signal to try to lose some of your belly weight. Women, watch out if your waist expands beyond 35 inches. And men, your upper limit should be 40 inches. If your waist size falls into the danger zone and your BMI is 25 or more, you're at risk of heart disease.

2 Chew the good fat. If 20% to 35% of your daily calories should come from fat, make most of it the good kind of fat - either mono- or polyunsaturated fats. Tasty foods with healthy fats include salmon, avocados, olives, and walnuts. Cook with vegetable oils, like canola, olive, or sunflower oil. Avoid foods high in saturated fats and carbohydrates.

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