Not all body fat is equal, and visceral fat is the worst sort because it’s so damaging to your health.
This fat is stored within the abdominal cavity, and it envelopes internal organs. It behaves totally different to most of your other fat.
Body Types
Broadly speaking most people fall into two types of body shape if they carry excess fat – apples or pears.
If you’re a ‘pear’ you carry your excess weight predominantly on your bum and thighs.
Compared to visceral fat, this fat is relatively quiet in terms of harm it does to the body.
Pear shapes aren’t immune to visceral fat – the more overweight you are, the more chance you have of developing it.
What Is Visceral Fat?
If you’re an ‘apple’ it’s even more important for you to maintain a healthy weight, because you’re much more likely to be storing fat within your abdominal cavity when you put the excess pounds on.
Having belly fat is a likely sign visceral fat too. This encases and squashes your internal organs, e.g. you might have a fatty liver.
This intra-abdominal fat has been likened to a gland in its own right because it releases so many active hormones – most of which are really bad for your health.
Your waist measurement is the most powerful predictor for future health problems.
Your Waist Measurement Predicts Your Health
This is taken from the British Heart Foundation site:
Women – increased health risk with waist measurement over 32″ (94cm), severe risk over 35″ (88cm)
Men – increased health risk over 37″ (94cm), severe risk over 40″ (102cm)
What is visceral fat – it’s a ticking time bomb to your health.
Get in touch with any questions, have a great week.
Dr Julie
PS You may find this useful:
The Daily Checklist To Losing Weight