Here’s why belly fat is considered the most dangerous form of fat

Excessive fat in the body not only affects the way you look but also affects the health and wellbeing of an individual. Several types of fat exist in the body.

While subcutaneous fat can be pinched under the skin and is found in body parts such as the hips and thighs, visceral fat is found in the belly region.

Both men and women stores fat in different parts of the body. While women are found to have higher percentages of fat in their hips, mean belly fat is the main area of concern.

Subcutaneous fat is prevalent in women whereas visceral fat is mostly found in men, and visceral fat is quite dangerous because its presence is linked to chronic diseases like cardiovascular disorders and diabetes.

Here are some reasons why visceral fat is considered to be more dangerous than any other form of fat found in the body.

In the region around the belly, both visceral and subcutaneous fat is found. Even though both these forms of fat play a vital role in protecting the organs, it has been found that excessive visceral fat is a significant risk factor for diseases like type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and heart diseases.

In a healthy body, fat cells grow and can recruit inflammatory cells that help alleviate inflammation and remodel themselves thereafter to promote the healthy growth of cells in the body. The presence of excessive fat tissues hampers all these processes and leads to insulin resistance. When cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose from your blood, it is termed insulin resistance. As a result, your pancreas makes more insulin to help glucose enter your cells.

The presence of visceral fat in the body leads to the secretion of adipokines in greater amounts. These chemicals trigger inflammation and release more fatty acids into the bloodstream. The fat cells present in the belly region do not allow the circulation of fatty acids. They rather store fatty acids within themselves because of which they not only are harmful to the body but bad for the overall functioning of the body.

Since fat present in the belly region has been found to increase risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, it is important to note that to overcome the adverse effects of excessive visceral fat it is not imperative to lose fat specifically from the belly region. Losing fat from anywhere in the body is equally helpful and can help reduce the risk of long term lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. Embracing a healthy lifestyle in which a balanced diet and a regular workout regime is included will help lose weight and maintain overall health.