Results of a recent study in the United States indicate that having visceral fat, even in individuals with normal weight, can significantly increase the risk of heart disease.
Visceral Fat and the Risk of Heart Disease
Previous studies typically assessed individuals' health based on body mass index (BMI), but new findings suggest that waist circumference plays a key role in determining heart health. According to researchers, individuals with a normal BMI but large waist sizes are up to 50 percent more at risk for heart disease.
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This study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involved analyzing data from 260,000 people over 20 years. The research found that individuals with a BMI over 30 but small waist sizes have a lower risk of heart disease compared to those with a normal BMI but large waist sizes.
Visceral Fat and Body Metabolism
Visceral fat is not only recognized as a dangerous type of fat but can also affect the body's metabolism. Professor Naveed Sattar, a metabolic medicine expert at the University of Glasgow, explains that fat accumulation around the liver can disrupt sugar metabolism and increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
According to Sattar, excess fat in the liver can increase triglyceride production, which itself is a risk factor for heart disease. Additionally, abdominal fat is also associated with high blood pressure, although the exact cause of this relationship is still unclear.
Problems arising from visceral fat accumulation can occur simultaneously and lead to what is known as
