It's no coincidence that most men's fitness magazine covers feature a superb six-pack, sculpted from the background like stone. A toned stomach is attractive to women, which is why the six-pack is the number one body-shaping topic for men. However, even those for whom attractiveness isn't the primary concern should consider tightening their belts. A growing number of studies and investigations show that excess abdominal fat can be a risk factor and is likely a trigger for a variety of diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. The insidious thing is that targeted fat reduction in the abdominal area is a real problem. Many men find neither exercise nor "eating half the portions" successful. This is because the body always breaks down fat first from where it is easily and quickly available. For men, this isn't the abdomen. This phenomenon can often be observed in out-of-shape bodybuilders who, despite having very defined arms and legs, still have love handles.