Visceral fat: The most dangerous fat and its health hazards

What are the effects of visceral fat content on health?

Reducing visceral fat is fundamental to healthy weight loss. Everyone knows that the direct cause of obesity is the accumulation of body fat. Body fat is divided into subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. When fat accumulates to a certain level in the body, it no longer settles under the skin but gradually migrates to organs, entering the area around organs such as the liver, pancreas, stomach, and intestines, as well as blood vessels; this becomes visceral fat. Visceral fat is the most dangerous type of fat in the human body, placing a heavy burden on health. Visceral fat obesity, along with diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, is known as the "deadly quartet."

Let's first understand what viscera, visceral obesity, and visceral fat are. We've already learned about human systems and structure; let's briefly review them again. Visceral organs refer to the organs within the body cavities that are directly or indirectly connected to the outside world via tubes. They are mainly concentrated in the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities. Visceral organs are the body's fat storage area. During digestion in the stomach and intestines, besides being converted into nutrients, some food is also converted into fat. This fat enters the large and small intestines, and through intestinal peristalsis, eventually adheres to the peritoneum and around the organs, forming a fat layer 3-8 centimeters thick-this is visceral fat. Like body fat, visceral fat is an important component of the human body, mainly located in the abdominal cavity. Visceral fat is crucial to our health; a certain amount is actually necessary because it surrounds the organs, providing support, stability, and protection. Too much or too little visceral fat is not good. Excessive visceral fat can lead to metabolic disorders. Long-term high visceral fat can cause complications such as high blood lipids, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and decreased organ function. In modern society, many people with high visceral fat may appear obese, but they may also be thin. Many people in our lives need to reduce their visceral fat.

Visceral obesity-a relatively new medical term-refers to the continuous accumulation of fat in the body. People with visceral obesity tend to concentrate their fat in the abdomen, where it is mostly deep. Over time, this fat can hinder the liver's synthesis of high-density lipoprotein, also known as "good cholesterol." The visceral fat index (VFA) is a standard for measuring visceral fat levels and can be measured with a diagnostic instrument. A VFA of no more than 3 for men and no more than 5 for women is considered good; levels above these values ​​warrant attention. Visceral fat is also known as "dangerous fat." Its accumulation leads to visceral obesity, directly manifesting as a "beer belly" in men and a "spare tire" in women. If visceral fat is not eliminated over a long period, it will automatically enter the bloodstream and circulate to the limbs, leading to systemic obesity such as "elephant legs," a large buttocks, thick arms, and a chubby face. Clinical manifestations include fatty liver, pancreatitis, heart disease, and stroke.

The causes of visceral fat formation: First, it's easily overlooked. A World Health Organization report on weight loss attitudes among obese populations worldwide indicated that 91% of women concerned about their family's health are eager to help their families or themselves lose unwanted fat, but in the process, they only focus on reducing "subcutaneous fat" while ignoring "visceral fat." Subcutaneous fat is easily visible, while visceral fat is located in the abdominal cavity. Various waist-slimming methods cannot eliminate fat hidden within the viscera. Some people who are thin also have a lot of visceral fat, so it's easily overlooked. Second, an unbalanced diet. Breakfast is often eaten very little or skipped, while lunch and dinner are very large, and late-night snacks are frequently eaten. There's also a preference for unbalanced diets, with a fondness for oily or sweet foods, and a diet high in meat and low in vegetables. Third, lack of exercise. Modern people spend more time sitting than standing or walking. They don't like to walk when they go out, and sit all day at work, resulting in little physical activity.

What are the health hazards of visceral obesity? First, weight regain after dieting. Common weight loss methods like dieting and exercise primarily reduce free fat in the buttocks, arms, and legs. Once this fat is reduced, visceral fat automatically enters the bloodstream and replenishes the limbs, a major reason for weight regain. Second, the "spare tire" of postpartum women. Infants need a lot of nutrition for growth and breastfeeding, leading to fat accumulation in the abdomen and buttocks. When visceral fat enters the digestive system, it can damage organs such as the liver, causing fatty liver disease. It can also disrupt metabolism, leading to type 2 diabetes and infertility. Experts point out that women with a waist circumference >85 cm are considered to have "visceral fat" obesity. Third, excess visceral fat has nowhere to go but enters the bloodstream, leading to high blood lipids. Visceral fat also increases the probability of cardiovascular disease, causing arterial inflammation and even contributing to depression. Diabetes, hypertension, high blood lipids, and fatty liver have become common diseases troubling modern health, and the age of onset is trending younger. Hypertension, diabetes, and high blood lipids are also major risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Obesity is often considered a "killer among killers." This is because obesity leads to the development of risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. Among obese individuals, those with excessive visceral fat are more prone to developing these conditions. Fourthly, constipation. Excessive visceral fat accumulation prevents it from naturally leaving the body, severely impacting digestive function. The large intestine becomes clogged with fat, making defecation difficult, thus leading to intractable constipation and related diseases. Fifthly, fatty liver. Another typical symptom of visceral obesity is fatty liver, and its incidence is constantly rising, showing a trend towards affecting younger people. Sixthly, high visceral fat can cause cancer. Seventhly, obesity leads to cardiac enlargement and heart disease. High visceral fat significantly reduces the heart's pumping efficiency, leading to fatigue. When people lie down, any abdominal fat compresses the lungs, causing obese individuals to experience shortness of breath. The more difficult the breathing, the more likely it is to cause insufficient oxygen delivery in the bloodstream, leading to general weakness, impaired immunity, and even high blood pressure. Eighth, visceral fat can disrupt the body's internal information transmission system, causing internal organs to send incorrect chemical signals to the body, resulting in fat accumulation inside the organs.

How can you tell if you have visceral obesity? Check if your abdomen is protruding and if your belt is tighter. A tighter belt means your waistline has changed, and if this is the case, you should pay attention. Clinical data shows that over 90% of "big bellies" are due to visceral obesity. In terms of waist circumference, men with a circumference greater than 90 cm and women with a circumference greater than 85 cm are typically considered to have visceral fat obesity. The medical adage "long waist circumference, short lifespan" reflects this principle.