Why is subcutaneous fat important

Visceral fat, on the other hand, lies out of reach, deep within the abdominal cavity, where it pads the spaces between our abdominal organs. Visceral fat has been linked to metabolic disturbances and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

In women, it is also associated with breast cancer and the need for gallbladder surgery. Fat accumulated in the lower body the pear shape is subcutaneous, while fat in the abdominal area the apple shape is largely visceral. Where fat ends up is influenced by several factors, including heredity and hormones.

As the evidence against abdominal fat mounts, researchers and clinicians are trying to measure it, correlate it with health risks, and monitor changes that occur with age and overall weight gain or loss.

The fat you can pinch is subcutaneous fat. The fat inside your belly the visceral fat can be seen and measured, but not pinched. How do you lose belly fat? No surprise: exercise and diet.

Staying physically active throughout the day as well as scheduling time for structured exercise may be even more important than diet. Research suggests that fat cells — particularly abdominal fat cells — are biologically active. It's appropriate to think of fat as an endocrine organ or gland, producing hormones and other substances that can profoundly affect our health.

Although scientists are still deciphering the roles of individual hormones, it's becoming clear that excess body fat, especially abdominal fat, disrupts the normal balance and functioning of these hormones.

Scientists are also learning that visceral fat pumps out immune system chemicals called cytokines — for example, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 — that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. These and other biochemicals are thought to have deleterious effects on cells' sensitivity to insulin, blood pressure, and blood clotting.

One reason excess visceral fat is so harmful could be its location near the portal vein, which carries blood from the intestinal area to the liver. Substances released by visceral fat, including free fatty acids, enter the portal vein and travel to the liver, where they can influence the production of blood lipids. Visceral fat is directly linked with higher total cholesterol and LDL bad cholesterol, lower HDL good cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that your body's muscle and liver cells don't respond adequately to normal levels of insulin, the pancreatic hormone that carries glucose into the body's cells.

Glucose levels in the blood rise, heightening the risk for diabetes. Now for the good news. So what can we do about tubby tummies? Too much visceral fat is associated with serious health conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so whilst subcutaneous fat might not be considered as unhealthy, it can still stop us being as fit and healthy as we want to be.

More of the right things of course! High quality protein such as fish or soya beans and healthy fats such as avocado and olive oil will get you off to a great start.

Swap a cheese salad for one loaded with tuna or pulses and avocado and you will be giving your body exactly what it needs. Then focus on your workout and start to include some resistance work to build your muscle base as well as keeping your cardio vascular system healthy.

Resistance work might include setting a slight incline on the treadmill, doing your stretches with the aid of a resistance band or carrying light hand weights when you go for a power walk. An excess of subcutaneous fat might be more about not being happy with your figure, rather than the more serious risks of excess visceral fat, but understanding how much fat you are carrying and knowing what to do about it if you want to reduce your bodyfat percentage, means that you are in control of your health and free to get the most out of life.

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People with a large amount of subcutaneous fat often have a large amount of visceral fat. What causes subcutaneous fat? Is subcutaneous fat bad for you?