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What’s interesting about society is its ability to pick and choose which parts of the body are a person’s fault or purely based on the cards they’re dealt.įor example, there’s acceptance of the fact that one person can be 5’2″ (157 cm), while another can be 6’4″ (193 cm), it’s labeled as genetics. Why focusing on aesthetics can be harmful Mental healthĪn obsession with perfect abs can lead to problematic behaviors and thoughts, such as extreme dieting or an unhealthy fixation with “healthy” eating, over-exercising, and negative self-talk and self-worth ( 7).Īs mentioned, there are many reasons as to whether or not you may have visible abs, many of which you cannot control.
#Whats keeping me fro abs skin#
Age, genetics, hormones, and whether there’s excess skin covering the abs can play a role. Depending on the thickness of this layer, your abs may not be visible. SUMMARYĪ layer of fat known as subcutaneous fat, which is found in the hypodermis of the skin, covers the abs. Ultimately, there are many factors that can determine whether you have visible abs. For example, women tend to store more fat in their hips and buttocks, while men tend to store most of their fat in the belly area, which is largely due to hormonal differences ( 6).įurther, as estrogen levels naturally decline in women as they age, there’s a greater tendency for their bodies to store fat in the stomach area, making it more difficult to have visible abs ( 6).įinally, any excess skin - such as from above-average weight loss - may also be thick enough to cover your abs. What’s more, where your body stores most of its fat is largely up to genetics and hormones. Those who are also physically strong may have more pronounced abdominal muscles. Having visible abs means that you have a low enough body fat percentage to make the muscles underneath show. In fact, having enough body fat - especially for women - is crucial for many physiological functions, such as fertility, hormone production, vitamin absorption and storage, and temperature regulation ( 3, 4, 5).
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This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as having sufficient body fat is important for your health. Since the hypodermis sits above the abdominal muscles, it may be thick enough to “hide” your abdominal muscles from clear sight. In particular, the hypodermis is the fatty portion of skin that stores energy (i.e., fat), provides protection and insulation, and attaches the upper layers of skin to muscle and fascia ( 3, 4). Your abdominal muscles are located below the skin’s three layers: epidermis, dermis, and the hypodermis (also known as the subcutaneous layer) ( 3, 4). internal and external obliques (your muscles along the sides of your core).transverse abdominis (the corset-like muscle that wraps around your core).rectus abdominis (known as the “six-pack”).Your abs consist of four main muscles ( 2):
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To understand why your abs may or may not be visible, let’s take a quick look at anatomy.