Dr. Alok Purohit (PhD), Health Coach, Obesity & Diabetes educator
Visceral fat, also known as abdominal fat, is the type of fat that accumulates around our organs in the abdominal cavity. While all fat is harmful to our health in excess, visceral fat is especially concerning because of the numerous health problems it can cause. Here are some reasons why visceral fat is alarming:
Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases: Visceral fat has been linked to an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. This is because visceral fat produces hormones and other chemicals that can cause inflammation and other negative effects on our health.
Poor Metabolic Health: Visceral fat is associated with poor metabolic health, including insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Additionally, people with high levels of visceral fat are more likely to have elevated levels of harmful fats, such as triglycerides, in their blood.
Increased Inflammation: Visceral fat is particularly dangerous because it produces hormones and other chemicals that cause inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation has been linked to a range of health problems, including heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Harder to Target: Unlike subcutaneous fat, which is the type of fat that lies just under the skin, visceral fat is deep within the abdominal cavity, making it much more difficult to target with exercise and diet. This makes it particularly challenging to lose, and people with high levels of visceral fat are more likely to struggle with weight management.
In conclusion, visceral fat is a type of fat that is especially concerning due to its numerous negative effects on our health. To reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve our overall health, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and follow a balanced diet.
Visit https://www.alokpurohit.com/ and/or write to us on alokpurohit.com@gmail.com for once in a lifetime, personalized health and life coaching which can help you learn more about your lifestyle conditions, reduce stress and anxiety through non medicinal, preventive/corrective lifestyle interventions.
References;
- Why Visceral fat is bad, Richard N. Bergman, Stella P. Kim, Karyn J. Catalano, Isabel R. Hsu, Jenny D. Chiu, Morvarid Kabir, Katrin Hucking, Marilyn Ader. First published: 06 September 2012
- The Case of Visceral fat; J Clin Invest. 2004 Jun 1; 113(11): 1530–1532.doi: 10.1172/JCI22028