What is Visceral Fat and Why is it Dangerous?

The fat we see externally is only subcutaneous fat.

But the fat accumulated inside the abdomen, around the organs, is Visceral Fat (internal fat).

This fat is not visible but is more active and dangerous.

Why is this fat dangerous? It's not just storage; this fat acts like a “chemical factory.”

It continuously releases inflammatory signals in the body.

What changes occur in the body when Visceral fat increases?

- Oxidative stress (Reactive oxygen / smoke) increases - Insulin resistance increases - Inflammation in the body increases

This means a suitable environment for disease is created.

It's important to recognize your own health.

If you have the following symptoms, there's a possibility of high visceral fat:

- Protruding belly (even without much weight gain) - Increased waist circumference - Sedentary lifestyle (more sitting work) - Heaviness after meals - Feeling low on energy

Even if reports are normal, the risk might be present.

A simple example: If smoke is generated in a house and there's accumulated waste inside, the smoke lingers and spreads more.

Similarly, in the body, visceral fat is a factor that increases and sustains oxidative stress (smoke).

Reality in OPD: Many patients say their weight hasn't increased much, but their belly protrudes, and from there, diabetes, Blood Pressure, and heart disease begin.

The belly is just a visible sign; the real problem is the fat accumulated inside.

In the next part, we'll discuss how what we eat determines whether oxidative stress increases or decreases.

Food and Inflammation

Reducing belly fat isn't just about appearance; it's the beginning of stopping the disease process happening inside.

The internal belly fat (visceral fat) is so important.

Did you know this before?

👍 Yes ❤️ New and important 🙂 Will pay attention now

If you found this useful, please share this post with friends and family. Many people are unaware of this hidden risk.

Dr. Ravindra L Kulkarni, MD, DNB, FSCAI (Cardiology), Just For Hearts