I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again — when it comes to sculpting visible abs, you’ll need to focus on your overall body fat percentage, rather than adding endless sit-ups or crunches to your routine. Your diet, cardio levels, stress and hormones can all affect your body fat percentage, but you can work out how to calculate yours, and why it matters, here on Tom’s Guide.
That said, if you are looking to strengthen your abdominal muscles, there are several benefits of doing so, none of which are aesthetic. Your abdominal muscles protect your spine from injury, so making sure they’re strong can help reduce lower back pain. Your abs also hold your torso upright when you move, so strong abdominal muscles can improve your posture, and make daily tasks like carrying shopping a little easier.
