Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has addressed the widespread obsession with a flat midriff, asserting that lower belly fat and water retention are not only normal but biologically necessary — particularly for women. The actress shared her views via the Stories section on Instagram on Sunday, drawing from her own experience of over-exercising and the lessons she learned from her nutritionist.

What Taapsee Said

Pannu, who was recently seen in the film 'Assi', opened up about a personal struggle she faced while growing up. 'I had to speak about this obsession of having a flat midriff. I remember I had this obsession because while growing up I was extremely fit but I never understood why the lower belly fat always stayed,' she said.

She explained that she pushed herself to extreme levels of physical training, which paradoxically worsened the situation. 'I over pushed myself and rightly said over pushing rings an alarm in your brain that your body needs protection. So, instead of actually losing water retention the body starts retaining it,' she noted, adding that over-working out can cause lower belly fat to increase rather than reduce.

The Science Behind It — Her Nutritionist's Explanation

Pannu credited her nutritionist, Munmun Ganeriwal, with helping her understand the physiological reason behind lower belly fat in women. 'My nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal explained it to me how it's actually important to have that little bit of fat, a little bit of water retention under the belly because that's where your reproductive organs are and they need protection and by virtue of being a woman you need that protection,' she said.

This aligns with broader nutritional and physiological understanding that a certain level of essential fat in the lower abdominal region serves a protective function for the reproductive system — though Pannu's remarks are personal in nature and not a clinical prescription.

Every Woman's Body Is Different

The actress also stressed that hormonal fluctuations mean no two women — and no two days for the same woman — are alike. She urged women not to compare their bodies to others or to expect a consistent appearance. 'It cannot look like any other girl so you need to accept this. I accepted it very late after really torturing myself,' she said.

Notably, the conversation around body image in the Indian entertainment industry has intensified in recent years, with several public figures speaking out against unrealistic beauty standards amplified by social media.

Her Message to Women

'It is healthy for you so just to get those picture-perfect Instagram pictures please don't torture yourself. It's supposed to be healthy to have that bulge and to have that little bit of fat there. Please don't torture yourself,' Pannu added.

Her remarks are likely to resonate widely, given the pressure — particularly on young women — to conform to fitness ideals that are often digitally enhanced or medically unsustainable. As more celebrities use their platforms to challenge such narratives, the conversation around body positivity in India continues to gain ground.