{"id":11446,"date":"2024-03-14T17:00:05","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T15:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/visceral-or-abdominal-fat-what-role-does-it-play-and-what-should-you-do-if-you-have-too-much\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T22:20:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T20:20:08","slug":"visceral-or-abdominal-fat-what-role-does-it-play-and-what-should-you-do-if-you-have-too-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/visceral-or-abdominal-fat-what-role-does-it-play-and-what-should-you-do-if-you-have-too-much\/","title":{"rendered":"Visceral or abdominal fat: what role does it play, and what should you do if you have too much?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In such situations, the type of body fat in question must be considered first. Because, yes, there are several types of body fat, and not all of them cause only aesthetic problems. In this article, we will talk about visceral or abdominal fat, a type of fat that poses a threat to the health of your entire body. <\/p>\n\n

What is visceral or abdominal fat, and what role does it play?<\/h2>\n\n

Visceral fat is the fat located in the abdominal cavity, under the muscles, around the internal organs. Up to a certain point, it does not cause problems; on the contrary, it helps protect these organs. It ceases to be harmless when it accumulates in excess because it can increase the risk of some quite serious health problems.[2]<\/p>\n\n

At the same time, it should be noted that not all abdominal fat is visceral fat, but it can also include subcutaneous fat.[1]<\/p>\n\n

What is the difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat?<\/h2>\n\n

Unlike visceral fat, subcutaneous fat is located under the skin, not under the abdominal muscles. It is that palpable fat that we can pinch with our hand, thus being much easier to detect and measure than visceral fat. It can also be very “stubborn,” in the sense that it often does not respond to diets or exercises, and it is necessary to resort to procedures such as liposuction<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Another difference between the two types of fat is that visceral fat is not always visible, which means that you can have a flat abdomen and visceral fat.<\/p>\n\n

Another difference is that subcutaneous fat tends to accumulate in the lower part of the body (hips, thighs, etc.), giving it that so-called pear shape, while the fat that accumulates especially in the abdominal area, leading to that apple-shaped silhouette, is mostly visceral fat.[2]<\/p>\n\n

Why is visceral fat a problem?<\/h2>\n\n

Excess visceral fat (regardless of total body weight) can have negative effects on health and can increase the risk of developing various conditions. It has been found, for example, that there is a link between excessive accumulation of visceral fat and heart disease, as it can contribute to the development of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders. <\/p>\n\n

Also, excess visceral fat can affect the way the body uses insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels, leading to insulin resistance and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n

In addition to the impact on cardiovascular health and the risk of diabetes, visceral fat can also influence the development of other conditions. For example, it is believed that this type of fat can contribute to the onset of sleep apnea and even certain types of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. <\/p>\n\n

Excessive accumulation of visceral fat can therefore have serious consequences on our health, which is why it is important to take steps to get rid of such excess.[1][2]<\/p>\n\n

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What can be done if you have excess visceral fat?<\/h2>\n\n

Although it may seem hard to believe, visceral fat responds much better than subcutaneous fat to diets or exercise. In other words, you can get rid of excess fat by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Start by making sure you have a healthy and balanced diet, one that includes many nutrient-rich foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, such as chicken or fish, and whole grains. These foods provide the body with the necessary nutrients and maintain the feeling of satiety. On the other hand, processed foods and fast food should be avoided as much as possible because they are high in saturated fats and sugar, which can contribute to the accumulation of visceral fat. <\/p>\n\n

Also, try to exercise for at least 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes per day, and be sure to include both cardio and resistance exercises \u2013 they help burn calories, reduce body fat, increase muscle mass, and speed up metabolism.<\/p>\n\n

Limiting alcohol consumption is also important in reducing excess visceral fat. Alcohol contains empty calories and can contribute to the accumulation of fat in the abdomen. To reduce excess visceral fat, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in general. This involves managing stress, getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking.[1][2][3]<\/p>\n\n

Can plastic surgery be a solution for visceral fat?<\/h2>\n\n

Usually, when we think of possible solutions for stubborn fat deposits in various areas of the body that do not respond to exercise or diet, we think of procedures such as liposuction or abdominoplasty.<\/p>\n\n

The first is a procedure that involves aspirating excess fat from certain areas of the body, such as the thighs, hips, buttocks, and abdomen. Various techniques can be used for this purpose.[4] For example, Dr. Olimpiu H\u00e2rceag\u0103<\/a> uses VASER technology, which involves using ultrasound to detach fat cells from the support structure and aspirate them (more information on how such a procedure is carried out and what advantages it presents can be found on our website). <\/p>\n\n

Abdominoplasty, on the other hand, is a procedure that focuses only on improving the appearance of the abdominal area by removing excess skin and fat.[5]<\/p>\n\n

In both cases, the fat that is intervened on is subcutaneous fat. Neither liposuction nor abdominoplasty<\/a> can remove visceral fat. <\/p>\n\n

Visceral or abdominal fat plays a vital role in protecting internal organs. When it accumulates in excess, however, it can lead to the development of serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The good news is that you can get rid of excess visceral fat with a healthy diet and exercise. <\/p>\n\n

Bibliography:<\/h3>\n\n
    \n
  1. \u201e4 Doctor-Approved Ways Women Can Fight Belly Fat\u201d<\/a>, Mayo Clinic<\/em>, 2023. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. \u201eVisceral Fat: What It Is & How to Get Rid of It\u201d<\/a>, Cleveland Clinic<\/em>, 2022. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Gotter, Ana. \u201eVisceral Fat\u201d, <\/a>Healthline<\/em>, 31 Jan. 2021. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. \u201eLiposuction\u201d <\/a>American Society of Plastic Surgeons<\/em>, 2023. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. \u201eTummy Tuck\u201d<\/a>, Mayo Clinic<\/em>, 2022. Accessed 2 Aug. 2023. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Excess body fat, especially in the abdomen, thighs, hips, or buttocks, is a fairly common problem that is more or less difficult to remedy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11449,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11446"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11452,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11446\/revisions\/11452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drolimpiuharceaga.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}