Image: Lindsey Turner
A double chin can make you feel unattractive. If you’re wondering why you’re having a double chin and others have none, then you may want to check on the following.
Causes of Double Chin
One or a combination of the following factors may have caused your double chin:
Genetics
If you have family members who also have double chin, then it’s most likely that having a double chin runs in your family. Just like the color of your eyes and hair, genetics also has a role to play in the way your body stores fat and retains water.
Excessive Weight
One of the most common causes of double chin is excessive weight. If you’re overweight or obese, then you’re more likely to develop double chin because of the excessive fat in your body.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
In contrast to what many believed, double chin can also develop among skinny people. It can happen if one lives an unhealthy lifestyle. It can mean eating mostly fried and processed food and rarely engaging in physical activities.
Age
Aging also contributes to the development of double chin. As we age, we start to lose our skin’s elasticity and our facial muscles start to sag. Hence, it’s common for many aging women to have double chin.
There are surgical procedures to get rid of the double chin but they can be expensive and come with certain risks. If you dislike invasive procedures, they’re definitely not the best options.
Simple Ways to Get Rid of the Double Chin
The good news is, there are simple yet effective ways to get rid of the double chin without going under the knife. These include the following:
1. Lose weight
If you are overweight or obese, then losing those excess pounds can help in getting rid of the double chin. Since it’s not possible to spot-target weight loss, the only way to get rid of it is to aim for overall weight loss. You can do that through improving your physical activity and changing your eating habits.
Aerobic exercises are great ways to help you lose weight. You can try running, walking, swimming, dancing, or jumping rope. If you’re in the gym, you can use the treadmill, elliptical machine, or the stationary bike. Aim to work out for at least 30 minutes each day in most days of the week.
Aside from exercise, the quality and quantity of the food you eat also matters when it comes to weight loss. Eat more plant-based food for your carbohydrate source and lean meats for protein. Carbohydrates supply your body with needed energy while protein helps in the repair of tissues and muscles. Also try having healthier snack alternatives like sweet potato fries instead of the traditional fries or carrot sticks instead of potato chips.
2. Chew gum
The muscles that hold the chin area are the same muscles used for chewing. These muscles are “worked out” when one is eating. They work harder when you’re chewing gum because it’s harder to chew gum than food. To avoid added calories, make sure that you’re opting for a sugar-free gum.
3. Do facial exercises
Facial muscles are just like other muscles in the body. When you do not move them regularly, they sag. This is where facial exercises become helpful.
There are facial exercises that are targeted for the muscles of the chin. There’s the tongue exercise that involves curling of the tongue back towards the throat; the chin toner which can be done by placing the palm of the hand on the forehead and with resistance, attempting to bring the head down; and the neck lift which is best done at the start of the day.
If you want to get rid of your double chin but don’t want to undergo expensive surgeries, then try these tips. They may not be easy or comfortable at first but you’ll eventually get used to them the longer you do them.