Although subcutaneous fat can be unsightly, it is completely safe. The visceral fat (belly fat) that accumulates around the abdominal organs, on the other hand, is metabolically active and has been related to the most lethal diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, strokes, and high blood pressure. Visceral fat, unlike the cells in subcutaneous fat, is essentially an endocrine organ that produces hormones connected to diseases that typically affect elderly people. If your waist measures 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for males, you’re likely carrying a potentially dangerous amount of abdominal fat.
Many researchers have looked into the causes of extra abdominal fat and why some people are more susceptible to it than others. Hormones, gender, and genetics have all been mentioned as possible causes. But, diet and activity levels are the only factors that have been proven to alter visceral fat levels so far. Working toward a healthy weight and an active lifestyle is the easiest approach to lose tummy fat.
Heart Disease
Heart disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes are all statistically linked to central obesity. The risk of death increases when the waist-to-hip ratio and overall waist circumference increase. Metabolic syndrome is linked to abdominal obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It is now widely accepted that intra-abdominal fat is the source of the biggest health risk.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, included approximately 500,000 people in the United Kingdom ranging in age from 40 to 69. The researchers measured the participants’ bodies and then tracked who had heart attacks over the next seven years. Women who carried extra weight around their middles had a 10% to 20% higher risk of heart attack than women who were just heavier overall throughout that period.
Researchers discovered that while both overall obesity and obesity around the abdomen have significant detrimental effects on heart attack risk in both sexes, higher waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio had a greater unfavorable influence on women than males. According to scientists, changes in adipose tissue quantity and distribution not only cause variances in body shape between men and women, but they may also have significant implications for the risk of a heart attack later in life.
Diabetes
Many studies have found that having an unfavorable waist-to-hip ratio is strongly linked to diabetes and cardiovascular risk. Insulin resistance is known to be associated with central obesity. Abdominal fat is particularly hormonally active, secreting a set of hormones known as adipokines, which may compromise glucose tolerance. However, adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory adipokine found in lower concentrations in obese and diabetic people, has been demonstrated to be helpful and protective in people with type 2 diabetes.
More than any other type of body fat, the fat that accumulates deep in the abdomen increases the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Researchers have long known that when belly fat turns inflammatory, it becomes harmful, but they’ve struggled to figure out what causes the inflammation. According to a new study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the liver is responsible for at least one of the causes of this puzzling inflammation. Obese mice’s livers produce more of an enzyme called DPP4, as per the researchers. This enzyme goes to abdominal fat via the bloodstream. DPP4 activates inflammatory cells once it enters fat tissue.
Cancer
Belly obesity also increases the risk of cancer. According to a Korean study, postmenopausal women who acquire visceral fat had roughly double the risk of colon cancer. The chance of breast cancer rises as well. Another study linked obesity and belly fat to an increased risk of breast cancer. Changes in biomarkers for breast cancer, such as estrogen, leptin, and inflammatory proteins, suggested a reduction in breast cancer risk when the women in the research lost around 12 pounds on average.
Asthma
The risk of developing asthma as a result of abdominal obesity is also a major concern. The muscles tighten and the airway shrinks as a result of breathing at low lung volume. Obese persons are known for breathing quickly and frequently while inhaling tiny amounts of air. Overweight people are also more likely to be admitted to the hospital with asthma. According to a study, 75% of asthma patients treated in the emergency room were overweight or obese.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Obesity appears to have a strong link to vascular and metabolic disorders, which could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have also found a link between obesity and dementia in middle age. A study looked at over 700 persons and found evidence that larger visceral fat volumes, regardless of overall weight, were associated with smaller brain volumes and a higher risk of dementia.
Women gain weight as they grow older. Hormonal changes, a loss of muscle mass, and, in certain cases, lifestyle changes are all factors that contribute to this. Keeping track of your weight and making adjustments to your daily routine will help you avoid packing on the pounds as you make this transformation.