It is somewhat true even. Except the potbelly is then due to water and not fat. This condition is called Kwashiorkor, and it is very bad for you. Thus in both cases, if you have a pot belly, get rid of it because that is the healthy thing to do. If it is due to Kwashiorkor, eating better/more will alleviate the problem. If it is due to fat, eating less and better will alleviate the problem. Wiki: Kwashiorkor is a severe form of malnutrition, caused by a deficiency in dietary protein. The extreme lack of protein causes an osmotic imbalance in the gastro-intestinal system causing swelling of the gut diagnosed as an edema or retention of water