http://www.active.com/women/Articles/Can-You-Spot-Treat-Body-Fat.htm?cmp=17-7-901 

Can You Spot Treat Body Fat?

By Madeline Romeo 
For Active.com

Spot reduction has become a multi-million dollar industry in this country. They promise flat stomachs, toned buns, and various other body parts tight, toned, and fabulous.

Unfortunately, no one move or machine can spot treat your body. The human body doesn't work that way.

For example, the playing arm of a tennis player should have considerably less fat than the inactive arm.

Studies have been done to test the circumference of the playing arms of athletes. They found that they were greater due to more muscular development. However, there was no difference in the amount of fat between the two arms.

There was a great study from the University of Massachusetts in the mid-1980s. In this investigation, 13 male subjects participated in a vigorous abdominal exercise training program for 27 days. They performed a total of 5,000 sit-ups over the course of the research project. They found that body fat was reduced in three different areas. The abdomen, buttocks, and upper back areas. So, exercise in general will help you lose overall body fat.  

There are five big factors why people gain or lose fat:

1. Diet
2. Hydration
3. Exercise
4. Stress
5. Sleep

One will effect the other four in a big way. Poor nutrition one day can effect how much water you drink, then no energy for exercise, which does not help you handle stress well, and in the end have a poor night of sleep.  

Start with the first factor and it will help the rest fall into place.