Belly fat isn't all the same. One type of belly fat seems squishy and is easy to grab between your fingers; the other is like a bowling ball in the middle of the gut. The differences between the two types of fat don't end there. Understanding the dramatic difference between the two types of belly fat may extend your lifespan, especially if you carry extra weight in the abdominal region.
Subcutaneous vs. Visceral
The belly fat you can grab in your hand is subcutaneous fat, which resides between your skin and abdominal wall. This fat tends to be more visible than deeper fat, but it isn't as harmful as visceral fat, which surrounds your abdominal organs, according to MayoClinic.com.
Causes
Aging causes your metabolism to slow down. Being sedentary can also contribute to weight gain as you get older. However, factors such as age and lack of physical activity don't directly influence the amount of visceral fat you have. Hormonal changes that occur after menopause can cause women to store more fat in their bellies. Additionally, some people inherit a tendency to be "apple-shaped" as opposed to "pear-shaped."
Health Risks
Visceral fat is linked with a variety of health problems, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and diabetes, according to UAB Medicine. These conditions increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Visceral fat may be linked to such health conditions because it's thought to be biologically active. This means it acts more like an endocrine organ or gland that produces hormones and other substances that may damage your health, according to Harvard Health Publications. Having too much visceral fat may throw off the functioning of hormones that help keep the body in balance.
Screening
You can determine whether you're likely to have too much visceral fat by taking a few simple measurements. Wrap a tape measure around your waist. You may have a dangerous amount of visceral fat if you are a woman and your waist is at least 35 inches, or if you're a man whose waist is at least 40 inches around. You may also be at increased risk for health problems related to belly fat if your waist-to-hip ratio is over .80 as a woman and over .90 as a man.
Treatment
Eating fewer calories and burning off more calories through exercise can help you burn off visceral fat. Visceral fat seems to burn off quickly once you commit to losing weight. For optimum benefits, get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise on most days and do weight-training sessions two to three days per week, recommends UAB Medicine. You may also lose weight at a rate of 1 lb. to 2 lbs. per week if you cut down your daily caloric intake by 500 to 1,000 calories. However, consult your doctor about your weight loss plans to ensure that your method is ideal for your individual needs.
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