Having too much visceral fat in the belly can also cause:<ul><li>dementia</li><li>cancer</li><li>asthma</li><li>liver disease</li><li>gall bladder disease and gout</li><li>fertility problems</li><li>lower back pain</li><li>osteoarthritis</li></ul>

Health Risks OfVisceral Fat (cont.) 

<ul><li>Visceral body fat, also known as 'hidden' fat, is fat stored deep inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, including the liver and intestines.</li><li>It makes up about one tenth of all the fat stored in the body.</li><li>Most fat is stored underneath the skin and is known as subcutaneous fat. That is the fat that is visible and that you can feel.</li><li>The rest of the fat in the body is hidden. That is visceral fat.</li></ul>

What is Visceral Body Fat?

<ul><li>Visceral fat makes the belly stick out or gives a person an 'apple' shape.</li><li>It also produces chemicals and hormones that can be toxic to the body.</li><li>Visceral fat produces more toxic substances than subcutaneous fat, so it is more dangerous.</li><li>Even in thin people, having visceral fat carries a range of health risks.</li><li>Visceral fat is more common in men than in women.</li></ul>

What Does Visceral Fat Do? 

<ul><li>Fat gets stored when you consume too many calories and have too little physical activity.</li><li>Some people tend to store fat around their belly rather than on the hips because of their genes.</li><li>In women, getting older can change where the body stores fat. Especially after menopause, women’s muscle mass gets less and their fat increases.</li><li>As women age, they are more likely to develop more visceral fat in the belly, even if they do not put on weight.</li><li>In men, age and genetics also play a role in developing visceral fat. Drinking alcohol can also lead to more belly fat in men.</li></ul>

What Causes Visceral Fat? 

<ul><li>Having visceral fat in the belly is a sign of <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/metabolic-syndrome">metabolic syndrome</a>, a collection of disorders that include <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/high-blood-pressure-hypertension">high blood pressure</a>, obesity, high cholesterol and insulin resistance.</li><li>Together, these increase the risk of stroke, <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/heart-and-cardiovascular-conditions">heart disease</a> and <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/type-2-diabetes">type 2 diabetes</a>.</li></ul>

What are the Health Risks of Visceral Fat?

<ul><li>The best way to reduce visceral fat is through <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/weight-loss-and-dieting">losing weight</a> and <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/balanced-diet">diet </a>. </li><li>Regular exercise (at least 30 minutes every day) can also stop visceral fat from coming back.</li><li>Another option is medication, but studies show this is not as effective in reducing visceral fat as exercise. </li><li>Liposuction does not work to remove visceral fat.</li><li>In summary, regular exercise + healthy diet are they key. </li></ul>

How Can I Reduce Visceral Fat? 

Important to know our body well, including the types of fats stored and whether those are healthy or not. Once we are familiar with those distinctions, we will be in the position to make further choices that may best serve our health goals.

The fat that might be stored deep inside your body can be a danger to your health. This fat is known as visceral fat (or 'hidden' fat). Here's how to find out if you have visceral fat and what you can do about it.

Health Risks OfVisceral Fat (cont.)

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