Beer belly, spare tyre, love handles… Call it whatever, but fat around the stomach is a problem so common, we even have pet names for it. Regardless of your overall weight, having large amounts of belly fat increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, colorectal cancer and sleep apnea.
What is visceral fat?
Visceral fat is toxic as it releases chemicals into your body, chemicals that influence the daily functions of your organs, increase your risk of disease, and even affect your mood. The fat that you can feel and see around your belly isn’t the problem. It’s the visceral fat that’s deeper inside your body that is harmful. When you have a belly bulge, it’s highly likely that you have both types of fats, the superficial subcutaneous fat, and the harmful visceral fat that surrounds your internal organs—such as the liver and intestines. Visceral fat can only be seen with an abdominal MRI. You are likely to be carrying high volumes of visceral fat if you are:
- A man with a waistline of 40 inches or greater, or
- A woman with a waistline of 35 inches or greater
How can I lose visceral fat?
Visceral fat is relatively easy to lose. It all begins with a healthy diet and moderate physical activity or exercise. We are here to help you or your loved ones make that change with proper nutritional and wellness programmes. Simply take the first step by calling our friendly medical concierge today at +65 6679 7867, or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg.
Now that you’re aware of the unlovable risks of love handles, instead of teasing your loved ones about it, encourage them to make a positive change to their lifestyles.
References:
- http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/Abdominal-fat-and-what-to-do-about-it.shtml
- http://health.cvs.com/GetContent.aspx?token=f75979d3-9c7c-4b16-af56-3e122a3f19e3&chunkiid=40480
- http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2012/04/30/you-may-be-fat-and-not-even-know-it
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1258185/The-toxic-fat-strangle-organs-shed-it.html