I consider myself a guy who is in good shape but I've been working full-time for the past 4 years now sitting inside a cubicle and even though I try to eat healthy, it's hard to avoid the gain in the belly area. It's the only place where I'm noticing fat. I focus on ab workouts at the gym and I might start running now. Considering that I put a lot of effort in trying to stay in shape and eat healthy, I can only imagine how drastic the "average" person would notice belly fat with age
Yup sux. hit me at about 26, you know marriage, kid, cubie, tripple cheeze burgers for lunch, bar nights after work, get home be glued to TV until passing out, get up get a P&J, go back to bed and so forth. Been there done that. Blew up to 320. My frame can handle it without looking obese, even at 320 I never had over 38" waist, however the bigger issue was heart rate and blood pressure. You gotta keep muscle tone and keep active.
I found best way was just start running again ...no diet... running makes you eat right and stop drinking if you don't want to leave lunch on track each day....YMMV.