Belly fat: The hidden health risk at your waistline

Belly fat: The hidden health risk at your waistline (Photo: iStock)

If you are a keen observer of body shapes, it won't take you long to see lots of people walking around with unwieldy belly fat. That means they have large waistlines, mostly accounted for by accumulation of fat around their bellies. Such belly fat is medically referred to as visceral fat. It indicates accumulation of fat around abdominal organs, including the liver and kidneys. Belly fat is far from an indicator of being well fed, it is a significant marker of health risks.

Visceral fat is metabolically active and has been associated with chronic conditions, such as inflammation, insulin resistance and diabetes, heart disease, and even higher risks of some cancers. There may also be disruption of hormonal balance leading to a host of other conditions. Non-pregnant women with a waist size greater than 35 inches have higher risks of visceral fat. The reference waist size for men is greater than 40 inches. Even the skinny can have visceral fat, which can be measured with biometric scales or scans.