“There is a common belief that very little or any abdominal fat automatically reflects a healthy metabolism,” Sheela Joseph said, advisory nutrition at Spars Hospital, Infantry Road, Bangalore. “During low intestinal fats, fat that surrounds your internal organs may really mean better insulin sensitivity and low risk of heart disease, it is not always equal to uniform efficient calories.”

He explained that metabolic health depends on more than the size of the waist. Factors such as muscle mass, liver function, hormone balance, diet and daily activity levels play a role. He said, “One can still be struggled with poor cholesterol or high blood pressure, while another person with moderate abdominal fat can have good metabolic markers if they eat well and remain active,” she said.

How the stomach links to burn the fat calorie

The relationship between belly fat and calorie burning, Joseph noted, is indirect rather than the reason.

“People with low abdominal fat regulate better hormonal, but your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is mostly affected by lean muscle mass, thyroid function, age and even genetic,” she says. “Just having a flat stomach is not necessarily how many calories are burnt in your body.”

Thin does not always mean rapid metabolism

Joseph always warned slim people against considering high metabolism. “Many lean individuals still face metabolism due to hypothyroidism, chronic stress, or deficiencies of nutrients,” he explained.

This group, often called “metabolicly unhealthy normal weight”, may look fit, but can carry the risk of diabetes, fatty liver and cardiovascular problems.

Lifestyle makes a difference

He said, losing stomach fat, especially intestinal fat helps to improve health results.

“Even a slight 5–10% decrease reduces blood sugar in abdominal fat, improves cholesterol, and adds insulin sensitivity,” Joseph. “This is not only caused by fat loss, but because people usually adopt healthy habits such as exercising, eating dense foods of nutrients, management of better sleep and stress.”

Shakti training, he said, is particularly important. “The manufacture of muscles enhances your relaxing energy expenditure. It is combined with aerobic exercise and a balanced diet, and you improve both metabolic and abdominal fat decrease.”

A flat stomach can sometimes indicate rapid metabolic, but it is not a whole truth. “Metabolic efficiency is about the big picture,” Joseph says. “It has been shaped how active you are, what you eat, your hormones, and your genetic makeup is not just your waist.”