A fat belly is dangerous because visceral fat inside the abdomen releases adipokines and toxic metabolites straight into the bloodstream, driving insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer risk. Middle-age belly fat also nearly triples the chance of Alzheimer’s or other dementia later in life.
There are three types of fat commonly observed in the abdomen: Subcutaneous Fat, which is fat immediately below the skin but outside the abdominal cavity. Retroperitoneal or Structural Fat separating organs and providing cushioning during movement. Visceral abdominal fat (found inside the abdominal cavity). Most of that fat is found on the greater omentum—a large apron-like sheet that drapes over all the organs. Some people are prone to storing their body fat in their abdomen as part of this greater omentum. As a result, large, globule clumps of fat attach to the omentum, where they release toxic materials into the venous drainage and into the bloodstream, ultimately causing adverse effects. This kind of fat releases adipokines, harmful chemicals that can cause Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and increased risk of cancer. Reports have demonstrated that being overweight or obese (particularly with a centralized distribution of adiposity) puts you in a higher-risk category for chronic conditions, from insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, gallstones, gout, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and a liver disease called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is interesting to note that the middle-age bulge increases your chances of having Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia in your senior years by nearly three times, even though it’s not your brain that stores the fat. This may be related to: Toxic metabolites produced by the visceral abdominal fat, such as xenoestrogens which suppress testosterone formation, leading to poor blood vessel elasticity and high blood pressure; storage of fat-soluble toxins, such as food borne pesticides and herbicides, acquired from the environment which then slowly leach out. Toxic belly fat is thought to promote amyloid accumulation by increasing chronic inflammation. Amyloid is an abnormal protein, which deposits in the body’s tissues or in more organ-specific areas, such as in the pancreas (type 2 diabetes) or central nervous system (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington disease). Visceral abdominal fat (belly fat) is the last reservoir people get rid of when they’re losing body fat—and it’s the first place they store it when they gain back body fat. To date, there are no ways to specifically target that fat, but there are things you can do to work your way down to healthier body fat levels (16% for men, under 22% for women). A low-glycemic nutrition eating plan with specific nutritional supplementation can help you optimize your health potential and reduce belly fat. Consistent high intensity interval exercise can increase metabolic rates, lower heart disease risk and improve body composition, muscle endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, core strength/stability and posture. These effects are not purely related to the energy burned due to exercise, but also due to the significant endocrine [hormonal changes] induced by resistance exercise leading to increased Growth Hormone, Thyroid Hormone, and Testosterone production. More specifically, resistance training helps you lose abdominal fat and overall body fat while lowering cholesterol: Weight training is the best way to burn fat; it’s more effective for losing weight than aerobic activity because it burns calories while you’re exercising and later at rest due to the hormonal changes and muscular regeneration.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reduce my visceral fat?
There is no way to target belly fat directly, but you can work your whole body down to healthier fat levels: about 16% for men and under 22% for women. A low-glycemic eating plan with specific nutritional supplementation, plus consistent high-intensity interval exercise and resistance training, brings down both abdominal and overall body fat. Resistance work also raises growth hormone, thyroid hormone and testosterone.
What burns the most visceral fat?
Weight training. It is more effective for losing weight than aerobic activity because it burns calories while you exercise and again at rest, driven by hormonal changes and muscle repair. Resistance training helps you lose abdominal fat and overall body fat while lowering cholesterol, and high-intensity interval work adds a higher metabolic rate and lower heart disease risk.
Will visceral fat ever go away?
Yes, but it leaves last. Visceral belly fat is the final reservoir your body gives up when you lose fat, and the first place it stores fat when you gain it back. Keep lowering your total body fat with low-glycemic eating and consistent training, and the fat inside your abdomen is the last to follow.
