Jolly old Santa with beard and big belly in a bright red suit is a holiday favorite. What’s not to love about this icon delivering gifts and eating milk and cookies? As a fitness professional, I can’t help but think about the other side of this story. Is it ever good for you or Santa to carry extra belly fat? Abdominal or visceral fat collects around the organs in the belly. It has been linked to metabolic syndrome, cancers, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and other problems. It can’t be worked off just by adding some sit-ups to your daily routine. You must eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise that includes resistance training to get rid of belly fat. How do you know if you should be concerned? If you are:

• A woman and measure more than 35 inches around your waist.

• A man and measure more than 40 inches. It’s time to shed extra fat to avoid higher risks for disease. What should you and Santa do? My recommendation is for both of you to make some positive lifestyle changes. Trade in the cookies and milk for carrots and kombucha, a healthy black or green tea. Perhaps you may even hire a personal trainer to help lose the extra fat and develop more lean muscle. We want you and Santa to be around for many years to come.