When mentioning excess fat, many people often think of fat that can be seen or touched on the body, such as on the abdomen, waist or arms. However, fat in the body does not only exist in easily noticeable positions. In fact, the human body has many different types of fat and each type has its own characteristics and effects on health.
According to Dr. Ravi Kesari, a internist at Apollo Spectra Hospital in Bangalore (India), the human body has two main types of fat tissue: visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. These two types of fat vary in accumulation location, function and level of health impact.
How do visceral fat and subcutaneous fat differ?
Visceral fat is a type of fat that accumulates deep in the abdominal cavity, surrounding organs such as the liver, pancreas, intestines and kidneys. This type of fat has strong metabolic activity and can release free fatty acids and inflammatory substances into the bloodstream.
According to experts, these substances can increase the risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Meanwhile, subcutaneous fat is located directly under the skin and often accumulates in the abdomen, hips, thighs or arms. This is a fat layer that can be touched when touched. Subcutaneous fat mainly plays a role in storing energy and helping the body maintain temperature. Compared to visceral fat, subcutaneous fat often has a lower risk of metabolic diseases.
How visceral fat affects health
Experts say that visceral fat can affect the functioning of many organs in the body. When visceral fat levels increase, the body may experience inflammation, metabolic disorders and endocrine imbalances.
Over time, this can increase the risk of many diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Some studies also show that visceral fat is closely related to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders.
Which type of fat is easier to reduce
Many people think that belly fat is very difficult to reduce. However, according to experts, visceral fat can often decrease faster when lifestyle changes because this type of fat has strong metabolic activity.
When maintaining a reasonable diet and regular exercise, the body often uses visceral fat as a source of energy first. Meanwhile, subcutaneous fat tends to decrease more slowly because it plays a role in long-term energy storage.
Habits to help reduce visceral fat
Experts recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle to limit visceral fat accumulation. Some measures that can help reduce belly fat include regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and limiting sugar and processed foods.
In addition, getting enough sleep, controlling stress and maintaining physical activity every day can also contribute to improving metabolic health and reducing the risk of visceral fat accumulation.
