Visceral fat lies in the spaces between the abdominal organs and in an apron of tissue called the omentum. Even if you don't actually gain weight, your waistline can grow by inches as visceral fat pushes out against the abdominal wall. The omentum gets harder and thicker as it fills with fat.Īlthough visceral fat makes up only a small proportion of body fat, it's a key player in a variety of health problems.Īs women go through their middle years, their proportion of fat to body weight tends to increase - more than it does in men - and fat storage begins favoring the upper body over the hips and thighs. It's also stored in the omentum, an apron-like flap of tissue that lies under the belly muscles and blankets the intestines. It's found in the spaces surrounding the liver, intestines, and other organs. The remaining 10% - called visceral or intra-abdominal fat - lies out of reach, beneath the firm abdominal wall. If you poke your belly, the fat that feels soft is subcutaneous fat. In most people, about 90% of body fat is subcutaneous, the kind that lies in a layer just beneath the skin. When it comes to body fat, location counts, and each year brings new evidence that the fat lying deep within the abdomen is more perilous than the fat you can pinch with your fingers. But saddlebags and ballooning bellies are not equivalent. No matter what your body shape, excess fat isn't good for your health. Unlike fat parked on the hips and thighs, fat around the middle produces substances that can create serious health risks.
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