How this hidden belly fat can affect your health

Visceral fat which accumulates around the organs in the abdominal cavity can increase your risk of heart disease type 2 diabetes high blood pressure stroke and some types of cancer according to health experts on WednesdayVisceral fat refers to the accumulation of fat around internal organs such as the liver heart kidneys and the mesentery of the intestine Unlike subcutaneous fat which lies beneath the skin visceral fat is metabolically active and poses greater health risksVisceral fat is closely linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes hypertension dyslipidemia cardiac ailments and hormonerelated issues like infertility Truncal obesity characterised by bulging around the waistline serves as a notable indicator of visceral fat accumulation Mayank Madan director minimal access and bariatric surgery CK Birla Hospital Gurugram saidThis is because visceral fat produces hormones and other substances that can cause inflammation and insulin resistance which can lead to these health problems explained Vikas Singhal senior consultant GI Surgery GI Oncology and Bariatric Surgery Gastrosciences Medanta GurugramAs people age they tend to lose muscle mass and gain fat which can increase the risk of visceral fat accumulation he saidAsians particularly Indians are more susceptible to this type of obesity and visceral fat deposition Men and older adults are also more likely to have higher levels of visceral fat Women tend to store more fat in their hips and thighs while men tend to store more fat in their abdomenWhile having a large waistline or belly can be an indicator of having visceral fat even people who are thin can have fat accumulation in their internal organsEven people with a healthy weight can have high levels of visceral fat This is because visceral fat is not always visible on the outside of the body and it can accumulate even if a person appears to be thin or in good shape Vikas saidA waist circumference of more than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women may indicate a higher risk of visceral fat accumulationTo prevent visceral fat the health experts recommend eating a balanced diet that is low in saturated and trans fats getting regular exercise getting enough sleep managing stress and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption Exercise is particularly important for reducing visceral fat as it can help to build muscle mass and increase metabolismThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever