“Muffin-top” is a generally pejorative slang term used to describe the phenomenon of overhanging flesh (fat) when it spills over the waistline of pants or skirts in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its paper casing.
This generally occurs when:
- a person wears low-rise jeans, hip-hugger pants, and/or midriff-baring tops that are too small.
- a very thin woman becomes pregnant, causing stretching of abdominal skin
- an obese person loses large amounts of abdominal fat.
Skin on the abdomen that has increased its surface area due to pregnancy or obesity does not usually contract down to a smaller size, and may require cosmetic surgery to remove the excess skin folds.