VISCERAL FAT: A SERIOUS INFLUENCE ON YOUR HEALTH

 

How does visceral fat affect your health?
 

Currently, many studies have demonstrated the correlation between visceral adipose tissuesand disease. Specifically, in a cohort study of 733 Japanese living in the United States for 17 years, scientists have found that the higher visceral fat, the higher risk of mortality from metabolic disorders. In addition, studies in many different countries have shown that high visceral fat causes cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Moreover, studies in China, Japan and South Korea revealedthat fatty liver disease is more related to visceral fat than alcohol use. These studies have also shown that the more accumulative visceral fat, the shorter longevity, and we often say that "the bigger waist, the shorter life cycle." Thus, the management and prevention of diseases caused by visceral adipose tissues is recently concerned by the community. 

 

The methods to measure visceral fat
 

Currently, there are many methods for measuring visceral fat including:
 

-Waist circumference and BMI measurement: these methods cannot tell you how much fat is distributed in the body. It cannot be distinguished between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. In clinical practice, there are some people with normal waist circumference and BMI but high ratio of visceral fat.
 

-Indirect measurement: Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a body composition measurement, in which the device transmits a small electric through the body to determine the resistance of tissues. From that, it helps to estimatetotal body water and body fat and lean tissues. This method is widely used in medical facilities and gyms because of its simplicity and low-cost measurement. However, the measurement results are not highly reliable.
 

-Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method (DXA), CT scans and MRI help you measure the amount of fat and muscle directly, and these are also “golden ways” in the diagnosis and monitoring of muscle/fat tissues. However, CT and MRI are costly, high radiation exposure. Besides, DXA can overcome these limitations and give you reliable results.

 

Conclusion
 

In summary, visceral adipose tissuesare harmful and seriously affect not only your health, but also the whole community. Thus,in AIH, screening for visceral fat is the main target for the treatment strategies of many chronic diseases, also this helps to prevent disease and improve your quality of life. AIH has modern equipment that measures accurately your body fat/lean mass by DXA method. Furthermore, our nutritionists will help to explain your measurement results, as well as give appropriate advices abouthealthy eating to reduce visceral fat and prevent diseases.