Summary of “Ab Crack” Is the New Thigh Gap — And It’s Just as Dangerous
- Is an AB crack genetic?
- How to get a deep ab crack?
- What are three physical signs of a weak core?
- What causes abs to crack?
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An “ab crack” is a prominent vertical line down the center of the abdomen, created by the linea alba (fibrous tissue) separating the abdominal muscles, and signifies very low body fat and developed abs, often influenced by genetics. While fitness, low body fat, and diet can enhance it, genetics largely determine if someone can achieve it, and extreme efforts for this aesthetic can be unhealthy, especially if it involves an unhealthy low body fat percentage or masks conditions like
diastasis recti
(muscle separation)
.
What it is
A deep line running down the middle of the stomach, giving the appearance of distinct left and right abs.
It’s the linea alba, a natural connective tissue band, becoming visible as muscles tighten and body fat drops.
How it’s achieved
Genetics: Plays a significant role in the width and depth of your natural linea alba.
Low Body Fat: Essential for the line to appear; requires reducing overall body fat.
Strong Core Muscles: Developing the rectus abdominis muscles (your “six-pack”) makes the line more defined.
Diet & Exercise: A combination of a healthy diet and consistent, targeted core workouts (like planks, leg raises) are needed.
Health considerations
Not always healthy: An ab crack often requires body fat levels that might be too low for some, affecting energy, hormones, and overall health.
Not a health indicator: It’s a cosmetic trend, not a direct sign of health, and shouldn’t be pursued unhealthily.
Watch for diastasis recti: In women, especially postpartum, a similar midline separation could be a medical condition (diastasis recti), which requires specific gentle exercises, not traditional crunches.
Key takeaway
Focus on overall fitness, strength, and a healthy body composition rather than fixating on the “ab crack,” as genetics and extreme leanness are major factors.
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“Ab Crack” Is the New Thigh Gap — And It’s Just as Dangerous
First, there was the thigh gap. Then there was the “bikini bridge.” There have always been impossible body standards set in place for women, but the advent of actual names for indicators that one’s body is good enough (aka thin enough) has turned body shaming into hashtags. And now there’s one more: the #abcrack.
According to Allure, the ab crack is a vertical line extending from the ribs down the torso, often seen on very thin models like Bella Hadid and Jasmine Tookes. Some believe it is an indicator that a person is in extremely good shape, but Nitin Jumar, M.D., a gastroenterologist that Allure consulted, says that even with a ton of exercise, there’s no guarantee this little line will appear when you look down. It requires a “low body fat level, muscular abdominal muscles, and a dash of particular genes that you may or may not have hiding in your DNA,” he says. So, it’s really more of a genetic thing, just like people who can touch their tongue to their nose or lick their elbow.
The ab crack also perpetuates the myth that thin equals healthy, when this is simply untrue. There are plenty of folks who are naturally thin who eat poorly and don’t workout, just as there are countless overweight people who have healthy diets and work out daily. Plus, those Instagram photos of celebrities, models and bloggers are often edited like crazy, making the ab crack even less feasible.
Here’s the deal, friends: You have the body that you have, not somebody else’s. If you want to alter it internally or externally by eating healthier or exercising more, that’s totally up to you. But do it because you want to, not because a hashtag on Instagram tells you that you’re not worthy unless you “prove” it with an arbitrary test. Remember: You have a bikini body regardless of your size or shape!