Diet absorbs most of the focus but sleep may also play a role in reducing the belly fat.
A study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine suggests extremes of sleep can encourage visceral fat gain.
The findings suggest the causes of visceral fat extend beyond diet and inactivity.
We put a lot of stock in diet," said Kristen G Hairston, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of endocrinology and metabolism and lead author on the study.
How to reduce visceral fat: Getting less than five hours sleep may raise your risk (Image: Getty Images)
"But this study brings up some interesting questions about the way we live. We may need to start looking at other behaviours - besides daily food choices - that could be contributing to the obesity epidemic in younger age groups."