By Stephen Beech

A " beer belly " can cause more damage to a man's heart than just being overweight, warns new research.

German scientists using advanced imaging found that abdominal obesity - often referred to as a “beer belly” - is linked with more harmful changes in the heart's structure than overall bodyweight alone, especially in men.

The findings also suggest proactive measures that doctors and patients can take to identify potential risks and intervene earlier to protect the heart.

These include preventing abdominal fat accumulation through regular exercise and sticking to a balanced diet.

Study lead author Dr Jennifer Erley said: “Abdominal obesity, a high waist-to-hip ratio, is associated with more concerning cardiac remodelling patterns than high body mass index (BMI) alon

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