24/08/2025
Visceral fat is the most dangerous type of body fat because it is biologically active and acts like an endocrine organ, meaning it secretes hormones and chemicals that can harm health.
Visceral fat surrounds vital organs deep in the abdomen and releases cytokines that promote inflammation and increase the risk of heart disease. It also causes the body to become less sensitive to insulin, leading to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, visceral fat produces a precursor to angiotensin, a protein that narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, increasing the likelihood of hypertension and cardiovascular problems.
A recent (Nature, 2025) cross-sectional study including 10,000 adults from NHANES data examined the ratio of lean body mass to visceral fat mass (LMI/VFMI) and its link to cardiometabolic health. The study confirmed that People with a higher lean mass to visceral fat ratio had significantly lower risks (70-90% lower odds) of these cardiometabolic disorders.
These associations persisted even after adjusting for age, s*x, lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, and medication use.
Another Nature published study found visceral fat to be crucial in predicting the onset of metabolic syndrome, which involves risk factors such as abdominal obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, and is becoming a serious problem worldwide.
Reducing visceral fat through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes is vital for lowering risks of serious conditions, disease prevention, and improving overall health. Studies have consistently highlighted that resistance training, aerobics, and HIIT lead to a significant reduction in VF content.
