The belly fat can be reduced or controlled by taking care of four key factors, i.e. diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep.

Eat a well-balanced diet - It is vital to maintain a balance in meal portions to lose fat appropriately. Especially when eating a food item that has high-calorie content, preparing a balanced diet chart is important. If you want chocolates or other high-calorie items, supplement that with healthy ingredients like fruits and vegetables. Also, moderate the quantity of protein-rich food to balance the carbohydrate intake. The most important part in reducing belly fat is to calculate the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of an individual.

Consume high fiber foods - A diet rich in fiber helps in reducing belly fat. Research demonstrates that eating 10 gm of soluble fiber every day builds up a smaller amount of visceral fat. Soluble fibers have a tendency to absorb water and swell up which helps in slowing down the bowel movement. This type of fiber enhances weight loss by making you feel full for a longer duration of time. It also decreases the absorbance of calories from the food.

Avoid foods that contain trans fat - Trans fats are unhealthy fatty substances that are manufactured synthetically through the hydrogenation of oils. They are found in kinds of margarine, and other spreads and are often added to ready-to-eat packed foods. This fat is associated with increased belly fat along with various other ailments such as inflammation, cardiac diseases, diabetes, etc.

Practice intermittent fasting - Intermittent fasting has recently gained popularity as a method of losing weight. It is an eating pattern including periods of eating followed by fasting. In a study on intermittent fasting, a 4 to 7 % decrease in belly fat was found when followed for 6-24 weeks.

Manage your stress - Stress can increase the accumulation of belly fat by stimulating the adrenal glands to produce cortisol-the stress hormone. High cortisol level in the blood increases hunger and also the belly fat storage. To reduce abdominal fat, try to engage in relaxing and pleasurable activities such as spending time with family and friends, practicing yoga or meditation, etc.

Say no to alcohol - Consuming too much alcohol causes serious harm to the body and can also make you gain belly fat. Heavy drinking is directly linked with the occurrence of central obesity i.e. excessive fat around the waist region. Cutting back on the amount of alcohol consumed may help in reducing belly fat. 

Exercise - Vigorous exercise cuts down all the extra fat present in the body, including belly fat. A minimum of thirty minutes of exercise for about 5 days a week is required for better results. Brisk walking can also help in reducing belly fat if it makes you sweat and increases your heart rate. One of the most effective forms of exercise for reducing belly fat is aerobic exercise (cardio).