Visceral Fat?

I was waiting for my coffee order the other day and I couldn't help noticing the number of guys that have a belly. It seems very commonplace. And then I found out that it is an indicator of visceral fat. The only thing I'd heard about visceral fat was that it was a major risk factor for a number of health conditions. So I decided to find out more about it.

What is Visceral Fat and why is it Important?

A lean belly leads to a healthier life. When measuring your body fat surrounding the waist, you are actually measuring visceral fat. This is the fat that surrounds your abdominal organs. It is normal to have some visceral fat; however, a high level of visceral fat can lead to serious health issues.

What is visceral fat?

Compared to normal fat, visceral fat is stored deeper in the skin. Visceral fat is wrapped around major organs like the liver, pancreas and your kidney. Visceral fat ensures that there is some distance between each organ. Too much visceral fat can lead to inflammation and high blood pressure, which increases the risk of serious health problems. This is also know as central obesity.

Another problem with visceral fat is its impact on adiponectin or 'fat hormone'. Adiponectin's function is to regulate your body fat. Visceral fat inhibits adiponectin. As a result your body produces more fat than you actually need. A high level of visceral fat also influences your insulin sensitivity. Which means that it can lead to type 2 diabetes later in life.

Practical tips on how to lose visceral fat

• Get enough sleep
• Exercise on a daily basis
• Try to reduce high amounts of stress
• Follow a balanced diet with healthy protein choices
• Reduce you alcohol consumption
• Quit smoking

Common questions about visceral fat

How dangerous is visceral fat?

Visceral fat can be dangerous due to the fact that it is implicated in a number of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, dementia and breast cancer. Harvard health discusses the link of visceral fat and these chronic al conditions.

Can stress cause visceral fat?

Stress can play a role in the degree of visceral fat. When a person is stressed, the body produces a hormone called cortisol. This hormone increases the amount of visceral fat stored in the body.

Which foods should you avoid to reduce visceral fat?

Fried foods, Refined carbohydrates, Baked goods, Foods and drinks with added sugar.

Can visceral fat cause pain?

Visceral fat can cause pain because it produces more of certain proteins that inflame your body's tissues and organs. This can lead to pain in the gut.