Endless crunches or sit-ups may not be the only way to reduce fat in the midsection, according to a new study. It has been found that increasing fiber intake may help cut belly fat.

Reuters reports that the study appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that Latino adolescents and teenagers who increased their daily intake of fiber over a two-year period were able to thin out around the midsection. They reduced their belly fat by 4 percent reduction while participants who ate less fiber had it increase by 21 percent.

"Even slight decreases in dietary fiber are having a pretty significant metabolic impact," said the study’s lead author Dr Jaimie Davis.

According to researchers, belly fat is the most dangerous type of fat since fatter waistlines increase the risk for both diabetes and heart disease.

Other potential benefits of a high-fiber diet include lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, preventing constipation and aiding in weight loss.

According to the Mayo Clinic, dietary fiber is found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. In addition to food sources, supplements containing fiber may be a good option for those who don’t get enough in their diets.