Visceral Fat

Visceral Fat – What is it and how do we get rid of it?

Visceral fat is stored in a person’s abdominal cavity and is also known as ‘active fat’ as it influences how hormones function in the body. An excess of visceral fat can, therefore, have potentially dangerous consequences.
Because visceral fat is found in the abdominal cavity, it is close to many vital organs such as the pancreas, liver, and intestines.

The higher the amount of visceral fat a person stores the more at risk they are for certain health complications, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Fast facts on visceral fat:
• Excess visceral fat can cause serious health problems.
• Exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes each day will help to burn visceral fat.
• Having some body fat is perfectly healthy and normal.

How is visceral fat rated?

Measuring the waist line is the easiest way to estimate if a person maybe carrying visceral fat. However,imaging scans, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are the most accurate way to determine whether someone has visceral fat.

However, because conducting these scans is both expensive and time-consuming, a doctor is more likely to diagnose visceral fat by asking a person questions about their diet and lifestyle. The doctor will likely also measure the person’s overall body fat to get an idea of what percentage is likely to be visceral fat.

According to Harvard Health, 10 percent of a person’s total body fat will be visceral fat.

A woman whose waist measures 80cms or more is likely to have excess visceral fat, which might increase her risk of developing some of the health problems linked to visceral fat. The same is true of a man whose waist measures 100cms or more.

If a doctor uses an MRI scan or body fat analyser as a measure of a person’s visceral fat, the result will fall somewhere on a scale between 1 and 59.

Visceral fat levels should be under 13 on this scale. Anything above 13 on this scale means that a person will need to think about making immediate changes to their diet and lifestyle. Making these changes will help reduce the person’s visceral fat levels to a healthier number.

Risks and dangers of carrying visceral fat

Health risks of carrying excess visceral fat include:
• heart attacks
• heart disease
• type 2 diabetes
• raised blood pressure
• stroke
• breast and colorectal cancer

High levels of visceral fat can result in increased insulin resistance, which may lead to glucose intolerance and even type 2 diabetes.

How to get rid of visceral fat

The dangers of storing excess visceral fat can be extreme and immediate, so it is essential to make diet and lifestyle changes as soon as possible as losing weight can help a person reduce their levels of visceral fat.

Exercise

Alongside strength training, cardiovascular exercise is recommended to help a person reduce their visceral weight.
Exercise is a good way to reduce visceral fat. People should include both cardiovascular exercise, which raises a person’s heart rate, and strength training, which improves muscle size, into their routines.

Cardio exercise could include:
• running
• cycling
• swimming
• aerobics
• circuit training
• boxing

Strength training could include:
• squats
• weights
• pushups

Stress
Stress can also play a role in storing excess visceral fat. This is because when someone is stressed, their body releases a hormone called cortisol, which increases how much visceral fat a person’s body stores. Some doctors recommend that people with high levels of visceral fat try to reduce their stress levels.

Relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, and other stress management tactics can be beneficial and help a person lose visceral fat more efficiently.

Diet

A healthful diet that is low in sugar-laden, fatty foods will also help a person lose weight and shift excess visceral fat. A healthful diet should include:
• lean proteins
• fruit and vegetables
• complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, beans, and whole grains.

Boiling, steaming, baking, and grilling foods will help to make meals healthier and lower in fat.

When to see a doctor

A man with a waistline that measures 100cms or more or a woman whose waistline measures 80cms or more is likely to have stores of visceral fat.

Men and women who fall into these categories might want to make an appointment with a doctor to have levels of visceral fat measured, discuss potential risks, and get advice on how to make health and lifestyle changes to reduce visceral fat levels.

Some doctors may carry out some blood and other tests, or refer individuals to a nutritionist or dietitian.