Multiple factors may play into the amount of visceral fat a person has in their body. People with high levels of visceral fat have a greater likelihood of developing cancers of the breast and prostate, as well. Visceral fat also secretes a protein that heightens the body’s resistance to the hormone insulin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes over time.
Chronic inflammation may increase triglycerides, a type of fat found in blood, making a person more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke, says endocrinologist Robert Eckel, MD, a professor at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine in Denver. An inflammatory response starts when the immune system registers something as a threat, setting into motion a group of processes the body typically uses to combat an infection or heal an injury. While all fat produces hormones and other molecules, research shows that visceral fat is unique in producing a hormone that stokes inflammation. In excess amounts, however, visceral fat is associated with an increased risk of developing certain health conditions. Anatomically speaking, it helps create cushioned space between the pancreas, liver, stomach, and intestines. Visceral fat, on the other hand, lies inside the abdomen-it’s not visible from the outside, and you can’t pinch it. (The fat you can see and feel in other parts of your body-like your thighs-is subcutaneous, as well.) Subcutaneous fat stores energy, cushions muscles and bones, and insulates the body from cold. “Subcutaneous fat is the ‘pinchable’ kind that sits between your skin and muscles,” says Amy Kimberlain, a Miami-based registered dietician nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
What does visceral fat mean for the body, exactly-and what can you do to reduce it? Read on for expert answers to all your burning questions about this common form of belly fat.Īs implied above, belly fat comes in a couple of forms: subcutaneous and visceral. We’re actually here to talk about a form of belly fat you can’t even see: visceral fat, the kind that nestles deep within the abdomen and is associated with an increased likelihood of developing certain health conditions. You won’t find any false promises about scoring six-pack abs in time for beach season. Rest assured, we’re not about to send you sweating through a million sit-ups.
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