What Women Need To Know About Visceral FatVisceral fat has another name – it’s also known as ‘killer fat’...and for good reason. It’s the type of belly fat that's been linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and a whole host of other health problems in both men and women, and more so as we age. Most women tend to view their tummy bulge mainly as a cosmetic issue – an ‘overweight’ VS ‘slim’ issue. The truth is that's it's much more than that. If left unchecked, it can lead to some serious health issues. Ask any of your friends and you’ll hear them say that they just want to get rid of it. There are two kinds of fat in our bodies – subcutaneous and visceral fat. Both behave differently and both in excess are detrimental to your health, but visceral fat is particularly insidious. Subcutaneous fat This is the layer of fat tissue just below the skin. “Pinch an inch” and that’s subcutaneous fat you’re pinching. Eat more calories than you burn and your body stores the excess as fat. Most women would swear it has a one way express ticket directly to their stomach, hips and thighs! Visceral fat Visceral fat on the other hand, makes it’s home hidden deeply within the abdominal area, the belly, and in and around major organs - the liver, heart, and stomach. That’s not by accident either – it’s by design. In relation to the size of your body, your belly is a pretty small area - yet it prefers this particular area of the body because it’s the most conducive area in the body for the on-going production of estrogen hormones as women age. (For men, it’s testosterone). Visceral fat is said to make up about 10-15% of a woman’s total body fat. Women with average amounts of body fat can have high percentages of hidden visceral fat and not even be aware of it! Medical researchers don't really understand why this happens, but studies seem to point to genetics, sex hormones (estrogen production), and cortisol (the stress hormone) as being major factors. To better understand the role of estrogen production and how it effects your weight, I suggest you read Menopause and Weight Gain. Visceral fat is metabolically active. That means it actually produces inflammatory molecules and fatty acids which are then metabolized by the liver. This now produces blood cholesterol or LDL and when it's released into the body, your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and hypertension sky rockets. To figure out exactly how much 'killer fat' you have, you'd have to have an MRI scan done. Remember, it surrounds the organs, so it’s really well hidden. But can you imagine your doctor sending you for an MRI scan? Not very likely, not to mention it's pretty impractical. Here's an alternative - and you can do this at home. There are two important numbers that can help you measure your risk factor. 1. Body Mass Index Most health care and fitness professionals use the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart as a guideline to determine your overall body fat percentage, based on your height and weight. It doesn’t determine or differentiate how much is actually visceral fat, but a BMI over 25 means you likely have more than what is considered healthy. So your BMI is, in essence, one small but important piece of the puzzle. 2. Waist circumference Measuring your waist circumference is the second piece of the puzzle. It's proven to be a pretty good risk factor indicator and can be done easily. Using a tape measure, measure your waist circumference just above your belly button. Is it more than 35 inches? You can fall within the normal 19-25 category on the BMI scale, but a waist circumference of more than 35 inches (for women) is a pretty good indicator of a high percentage of visceral fat. For men, it’s 40 inches. Thankfully, when you begin to lose weight naturally this is also the first kind of fat you'll lose.
Menopause and Weight Gain - What Every Woman Over 35 Should Know Menopause and Weight Gain – Understanding perimenopause weight gain and menopause belly fat. Belly fat loss after menopause is easier if you understand how your body is changes during perimenopause.
Menopause Belly Fat Loss Menopause belly fat is the most stubborn belly fat. Have researchers actually found a possible belly fat “cure” for menopausal women struggling to lose menopause belly fat – the most stubborn belly fat? It seems that way according to the results of a recent study out of Ohio State University! Lose abdominal fat with only two spoonfuls of this oil daily!
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