Excess fat around the abdomen, termed visceral fat, might prove more dangerous than fat found in other parts of the body. Emerging research has linked excess visceral fat to a wide range of deadly health problems. No magical strategy will help reduce belly fat, just the basic tenets of healthy living like increased physical activity and a diet low in sugar, unhealthy fats and sodium.
Waist Circumference
An article published on a Harvard Medical School website explains that your waist circumference might provide better indications of future health problems more strongly than your body mass index. Men with a waist measurement of 40 inches or more and women with measurements of 35 or more have the greatest risk of health problems from excess visceral fat explains George Blackburn, associate director of nutrition at Harvard University, speaking to "USA Today." You do not necessarily have to be overweight to have dangerous amounts of visceral fat, but familiarize yourself with this measurement.
Actions of Visceral Fat
Abdominal fat is much more than tissue taking up space in the body. The Harvard site explains research has uncovered visceral fat is an active substance that does things like trigger inflammation and release hormones and other substances that influence the course of disease.
Blood Vessel Damage
MayoClinic.com conducted a study looking at the link between weight gain in lean, healthy individuals and blood vessel damage. It found an increase as small as 9 lbs produced damage to the lining of the blood vessels. While the participants gained both visceral and subcutaneous fat, or fat in other parts of the body, an increase in visceral fat was strongly linked with damaged blood vessels. The clinic presented the results at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2007.
Cholesterol and Diabetes
The portal vein -- the vein that carries blood from the intestines to the liver -- passes right by visceral fat stores. The fatty acids and other substances that enter the vein influence the production of cholesterol in the liver, leading to high levels of "bad" cholesterol and low-levels of "good" cholesterol.
Inflammatory immune system chemicals such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 have been linked to reducing your cells' sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that helps move glucose into them. This interferes with proper blood sugar levels and increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Other Problems
Harvard notes a European study that looked for links between colorectal cancer and abdominal fat. Of the 500,000 men and women it studied, women with a waist to hip ratio above .85 had a 52 percent greater risk of this form of cancer. Visceral fat has also been linked to high blood pressure and cognitive problems like decreased memory.
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