Excess abdominal or visceral fat mass in the stomach in women or men can reflect the presence of abnormalities and in the long term cause the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, diabetes).
Definition: what is abdominal fat?
Abdominal fat is fat that is located in the abdomen. It can be visible, it is the famous “belly“but also invisible when it lodges inside the abdomen, around the intestines or the liver. “This fat is the most toxic” says Dr. Boris Hansel, endocrinologist. It is called “visceral fat”.
“There are no techniques that can measure visceral fat directly,” answers the specialist. It is in fact the existence of small abnormalities (excess cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, too high blood pressure, etc.) associated with an increased waist circumference that may suggest the presence of fat in the organs. In France, health authorities define abdominal obesity by a waist circumference greater than or equal to 80 cm for women and to 94cm for men.
Which women are at risk for belly fat?
People who are sedentary, in menopause and those who have a genetic background (against which nothing can be done) conducive to abdominal fat. “Women who smoke, who sleep little and are stressed are also more at risk” adds the doctor.
Is age a risk factor?
“No, advancing age does not promote visceral fat, replies Dr. Hansel, but the hormonal changes that occur with age yes.” At menopause, for example, hormonal changes promote fat accumulation at the level of the abdomen.
What diseases are linked to excess abdominal fat?
The excessive presence of fat in the abdomen can lead to: increased blood pressure, A excess triglyceridesA excess blood sugar. Over time, illnesses can occur. The first two are the diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, in particular coronary diseases such as heart attack. Then, the liver with fatty liver disease or soda disease which characterizes the accumulation of fat inside the liver and which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. “Then there are sleep apneas which concern more people who have excess abdominal fat, and polycystic ovaries for women which are the first cause of infertility” notes Dr. Hansel.
Visceral fat dumps fatty acids into the bloodstream which have toxic effects on the organs involved in the manufacture and use of sugar. In addition, it manufactures substances called “adipokines” which in excess (especially during visceral obesity) also become toxic and could lead to metabolic syndrome.
“Visceral fat is probably the easiest to get rid of, it’s very mobile fat, it stores quickly but also destocks quickly. What will be effective is endurance physical activity with a certain intensity, duration and frequency per week. Second, reducing calorie intake. The third thing is sleep, which also plays a role in this.” replies Dr. Hansel.
What we don’t know: “Tobacco protects against weight gain but in the long term it promotes fat in the belly. At equal weight, a person who smokes will have a higher waist circumference on average than those who do not smoke.
Thanks to Dr. Boris Hansel, endocrinologist.