I think it is fair to say that most of use don’t really understand what fat is and it’s relationship with our bodies.
In others areas of the website we have explained how it is both important for the body to have fat and how eating the good fats it can help with your weight loss journey, however their are fats that if the body could speak would tell you that they really are dangerous!
Visceral fat is the most dangerous fat, and I will explain why we really need to take notice of it, unlike subcutaneous fat which is primarily stored directly under the skin which is common with women on both hips & bums, and also for both men and women on the back and in the face. Visceral fat is deeper in the body hiding around all the nooks and crannies within your abdomen and creates a cellulite swamp of fatty tissue covering around major organs and clotting arteries!
We have all heard of the term ‘beer belly’ and ‘pot belly’ this is due to the amount of visceral fat stores, the visceral fat takes up residence in the abdominal cavity, especially around the liver, and can cause quiet a protuberance if ignored!
Sedentary lifestyles, lack of regular level of intense exercise and unhealthy diets are the main culprits for the build up of this fat. Therefore a lifestyle and nutrition overhaul would seem like the answer to stop any future fatty growth and ditch the visceral fat that has built up, right?
Let me first talk about the main dangers of visceral fat. Studies have shown a build up of visceral fat to play a part in the body’s susceptibility to major health risks. The reason for this is because of where visceral fat is located, in the abdominal area, among the major organs, you can also be sure that it is also affecting your overall health.
We know the heart is just another muscle, an important one for sure as we know it has to contract for us to live, but if those little blood pumping arteries are so clogged up with fats, narrowing them and allowing cholesterol (which is a very sticky substance, and yes we do need it to survive) to stick to the arteries walls it is impossible for the heart to work one hundred percent, this opens up the flood gates for a web of cardiac complications, high blood pressure which is nicknamed ‘the silent killer’, heart attacks, heart disease and procedures such as stent replacements and angiogram which come with their own complications. On top of this we are then looking at a host of cardiovascular medications to keep everything under control, but there is also a price to pay with any medication, especially the long term one’s like beta blockers, statins etc.
With this excess build up of visceral fat we will also be prone for the potential of type II diabetes as your liver, which is trying to find out what to do with all this fat it’s supposed to process, triggers an insulin resistance. So now we are looking down the barrel of a host of potential cardiovascular issues, diabetes and I will top the list with an overload of cholesterol shooting through your veins compliments of the liver can see the vicious cycle of events spiralling out of control!
Now that we know and hopefully understand why we need to avoid excess visceral fat, let’s see what we might be doing that promotes it. If any of the following list feature in your life you could be subjecting your body to excess visceral fat and the dangerous complications I have already talked about.
Sedentary living – little or no exercise, this is more than just walking to shops or strolling the dog each day!
Obesity – You will be surprised how little you may need to weigh to be classed as obese, 1 in 4 adults in the UK are obese
Smoker – Enough said
Drinker – More than 2 alcoholic drinks a day
Unbalanced Diet – Especially high in bad fats
High Stress Levels – Long term
In the plight to become healthier, more physically fit and eating a healthy balanced diet we are forced to come face to face with the belly! And here’s the kicker visceral fat is harder to break down than subcutaneous fat! However don’t get discouraged just yet……harder doesn’t mean impossible, right?
Adding an extra hour to your current exercise regime broken down day by day only means a few more minutes, if you don’t currently exercise (and by this I mean to the levels the Goverment states 3-5 times per week at least moderate intensity), you’ll need to get on the ball and try to put a plan together.
Choosing a side salad or veg portion instead of the deep fried potato skins is also another step in the right direction as changing your nutritional lifestyle is also paramount, try incorporating fat burning foods rather than fat storing ones. Getting rid of visceral fat and maintaining a balanced diet along with regular exercise is your ticket to a longer, slimmer and healthier life!
If you would like to know what your visceral fat is in your body, help with starting to put together exercise plan and ways to exercise which doesn’t mean gym memberships or help with the correct nutrition then get in touch with us.