dietary supplementation with coconut oil-->reduction in waist circumference after 1 week!!
also coconut--> higher HDL, lower LDL:HDL ratio
randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 12 week long diet
n = 40 women in 2 groups, daily soybean oil vs daily coconut oil
all walked and ate low cal diets
at 1 wk: soybean oil group had incr total chol, LDL and LDL:HDL ratio, decr HDL
(bad trend in fats)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19437058

Lipids. 2009 Jul;44(7):593-601. Epub 2009 May 13.
Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity.

Assunção ML, Ferreira HS, dos Santos AF, Cabral CR Jr, Florêncio TM.
Source
Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL 57072-970, Brazil.

Abstract
The effects of dietary supplementation with coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting waist circumferences (WC) >88 cm (abdominal obesity) were investigated. The randomised, double-blind, clinical trial involved 40 women aged 20-40 years. Groups received daily dietary supplements comprising 30 mL of either soy bean oil (group S; n = 20) or coconut oil (group C; n = 20) over a 12-week period, during which all subjects were instructed to follow a balanced hypocaloric diet and to walk for 50 min per day. Data were collected 1 week before (T1) and 1 week after (T2) dietary intervention. Energy intake and amount of carbohydrate ingested by both groups diminished over the trial, whereas the consumption of protein and fibre increased and lipid ingestion remained unchanged. At T1 there were no differences in biochemical or anthropometric characteristics between the groups, whereas at T2 group C presented a higher level of HDL (48.7 +/- 2.4 vs. 45.00 +/- 5.6; P = 0.01) and a lower LDL:HDL ratio (2.41 +/- 0.8 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.8; P = 0.04). Reductions in BMI were observed in both groups at T2 (P < 0.05), but only group C exhibited a reduction in WC (P = 0.005). Group S presented an increase (P < 0.05) in total cholesterol, LDL and LDL:HDL ratio, whilst HDL diminished (P = 0.03). Such alterations were not observed in group C. It appears that dietetic supplementation with coconut oil does not cause dyslipidemia and seems to promote a reduction in abdominal obesity.

PMID: 19437058 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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other things that reduce abdominal fat:
(source: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/)
anthocyanidins, from berries, separate study on tart charries
legumes, L-arginine and selenium
bitter melon
chick peas
cromium
conjugated linoleic acid
flax lignans attenuates visceral and liver fat accumuulation dt hi fat diet, induces adiponectin in mice
soluble fiber in fenugreek improves lipid profile and glucose response in rats, reduces abd fat
fish oil beats lard, corn oil and med chain tg's (coconut?) in reducing visceral fat, tot fat and IR
glycyrrhiza may help
vitamin D PLUS genistein-->inhib lipid accumulation and induces preadipocyte apoptosis
low vit D assoc c adiposity in Latinos
grapefruit oil inhibits adipogenesis in cultured subcutaneous preadipocytes and adipocytes
green tea
gymnema

abdominal massage c EOs of cypress and grapefruit
Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2007 Jun ;37(4):603-12. PMID: 17615482
RESULT: Abdominal subcutaneous fat and waist circumference in the experimental group significantly decreased after aromatherapy massage compared to the control group. Body image in the experimental group was significantly better after aromatherapy massage than in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Aromatherapy massage could be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce abdominal subcutaneous fat, waist circumference, and to improve body image in post-menopausal women.