Content Curator
Visceral Fat is body fat accumulated in the abdominal cavity. It's close to the liver, stomach, and intestines, among other critical organs. It can also cause clogging of the arteries. Because visceral fat can actively increase the risk of significant health problems, it is also referred to as Active Fat.
| Table of Content |
Keyterms: Fat, Active fat, abdominal cavity, organs, Genetics, metabolism, chronic stress, smoking, lack of sleep, lack of physical activity, hormonal shifts
Read Also: Symptoms of Liver Problem
Causes of Visceral Fat
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The reasons for the increase in visceral fat in anyone's body are as follows.
- Poor Eating Habits- A high-carbohydrate diet can increase visceral fat levels.
- Genetics- In many cases, genetics has been discovered to be the cause of fat accumulation.
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption- Alcohol slows the rate of metabolism, resulting in increased fat levels in the body.
- Slow body metabolism, chronic stress, smoking, lack of sleep, lack of physical activity, hormonal shifts, and so on are some of the other factors.
Causes of Visceral Fat
Read More:
Ranges of Visceral Fat
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
The computed tomography scan (CT scan) may aid doctors in determining the amount of stored fat, but it is currently insufficiently accurate and cost-effective for month-to-month monitoring.
Rather than attempting to determine how much of the visible belly fat is visceral, simply recognize that a large belly and waistline signal risk and appear unhealthy.
The following are the classifications based on the quantity of visceral fat in a person's belly: -
- Normal/Acceptable Range- Visceral fat levels in the range of 0 to 12 are considered normal.
- People with visceral fat levels greater than 13 are considered to be in the harmful range.
Visceral Fat Ranges
Visceral Fat: Health Risks
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Increased risks of the following health issues may be associated with having more visceral fat:
- Heart disease is a serious condition
- Cholesterol levels are abnormal
- Breast cancer is a disease that affects women
- Diabetic type 2
- Blood pressure is too high
- Disorders of the lungs
- Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon
- Cholesterol levels are abnormal
- Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia
Visceral Fat: Health Risks
Read Further: Difference Between Small and Large Intestine
How to Reduce Visceral Fat
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
How to reduce visceral fat is the most pressing concern for persons with excessive amounts of visceral fat. However, the real answer to how to lose visceral fat is found in the most basic methods.
The following are some helpful hints for lowering visceral fat levels.
- Exercise on a daily basis
- Consume a high-protein diet
- Make sure you get enough sleep
- Do not consume junk food
- Alcohol use should be kept to a minimum
- Take care not to become stressed
- Sugar, refined carbs, and smoke should all be avoided
Types of Body Fat
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
There are six different kinds of body fat, one of which is visceral fat. A list of all the different forms of body fat is provided below.
- White Fat: White fat is one of the required types of body fat that can be found all throughout the body. It is frequently made up of white and big cells, hence the name "white fat." High quantities of white fat can also contribute to major health problems such as cancer, heart attack, high blood pressure, and so on.
- Brown Fat: Brown fat is the most primitive type of body fat that may be found in humans. It's found in newborns because it helps them stay warm in the early stages of life. Brown fat can be observed in adults as well, particularly around the neck and shoulder area.
- Lower Body Fat: This is the fat that gives an adult's body its pear-shaped form. It accumulates in the lower body, such as the buttocks, thighs, and other areas, and is primarily found in women.
- Healthy and Essential Fat: Essential fat is a different type of fat. It is one of the healthiest types of body fat because it does not affect the body. The structure of our body's critical organs is essentially made up of fat. Essential lipids can be present in the brain, nerves, and bone marrow, among other places. It has a variety of functions, including hormone modulation, temperature management, and nutrient absorption, among others.
- Subcutaneous Fat: Subcutaneous fat is present beneath the layers of our skin. Pinching or pressing any region of your skin will reveal it. The majority of this fat is present in our thighs, stomach, arms, and buttocks, among other places. The total body fat percentage is calculated by using a caliper to measure subcutaneous fat. This fat is vital for our bodies, but it may also be dangerous if it accumulates to an unhealthy amount. As a result, if this fat accumulates, you should be aware of ways to minimize visceral fat.
Types of Body Fat
Also Read:
Things to Remember
- Visceral fat is a type of body fat that collects in the abdominal cavity.
- It's close to vital organs like the liver, stomach, and intestines.
- Other reasons include slow body metabolism, chronic stress, smoking, lack of sleep, lack of physical activity, hormonal fluctuations, and so on.
- Normal/Acceptable Range – Visceral fat levels between 0 and 12 are considered normal.
- People who have a visceral fat level of more than 13 are regarded to be in the danger zone.
- Visceral fat is more likely in men with a waist circumference of more than 40 inches and women with a waist circumference of more than 35 inches.
- According to research, a well-balanced diet is the most effective way to lose weight.
Previous Year Questions
- Gastric juice of infants contains…..[NEET 2015]
- If for some reason our goblet cells are non- functional, this will adversely affect...[NEET 2010]
- If pancreas is removed, the compound which remain undigested is...[NEET 1997]
- In man the zymogen or chief cells are mainly found in...[NEET 1990]
- In the stomach, gastric acid is secreted by the :...[NEET 2016]
- Kupffer's cells occur in...[NEET 1993]
- The proteolytic enzyme rennin is found in :..[NEET 2020]
- The vitamin C or ascorbic acid prevents...[NEET 1995]
- Vitamin K is required for..[NEET 1993]
- Wharton's duct is associated with...[NEET 1988]
- What is common among amylase, rennin and trypsin?...[NEET 1997]
- When breast feeding is replaced by less nutritive food low in proteins and calories; the infants below the age of one year are likely to suffer from...[NEET 2009]
- Where is protein digestion accomplished?...[NEET 1991]
- Which food should be eaten during deficiency of rhodopsin in eyes?...[NEET 2000]
- Which group of three of the following five statements (1 -5) contain all three correct statements regarding beri-beri?...[NEET 2005]
Sample Questions
Ques. How can you get rid of visceral fat? (2 Marks)
Ans. To get rid of visceral fat Limit your sugar and alcohol consumption, avoid trans fat, get plenty of sleep, and reduce your stress level by following a low carb diet, doing more aerobic activities, eating more soluble fiber and protein, and limiting your sugar and alcohol consumption.
Ques. How is visceral fat evaluated? (2 Marks)
Ans. When assessed with body fat analyzers or MRI scans, visceral fat is frequently rated on a scale of 1 to 59. Visceral fat levels should be kept below 13. If your score is 13–59, you should make immediate lifestyle modifications. Visceral fat can cause health issues very quickly.
Ques. What's the difference between visceral and subcutaneous fat? (2 Marks)
Ans. The fat that is stored right beneath the skin is known as subcutaneous fat (For instance, the amount of fat that we find in the regions of the arms and legs). The extra fat that is accumulated within the abdomen, where other organs are located, is known as visceral fat. Both visceral and subcutaneous fat types may be responsible for the fat surrounding the belly button.
Ques. Which level of visceral fat is considered healthy? (2 Marks)
Ans. Range of Visceral Fat The green half of the scale, from 1 to 12, represents a healthy level of visceral fat, according to the above graphic. The red component, which ranges from 12 to 60, indicates an elevated level, indicating that you should adjust your diet and begin an exercise routine.
Ques. Why is visceral fat so harmful? (2 Marks)
Ans. Because it is linked to the release of proteins and hormones that might promote inflammation, visceral fat is harmful. Inflammation can harm your arteries, penetrate your liver, and affect how your body processes down sugars and fats.
Ques. What is the role of gallbladder? What may happen if it stops functioning or is removed? (2 Marks)
Ans. The bile secreted by the hepatic cells passes through the hepatic ducts and is stored and concentrated in a thin muscular sac called the gallbladder. Bile helps in emulsification of fats, i.e., breaking down the fats into very small micelles. Bile also activates lipases. If it stops functioning or is removed then digestion of fat will be affected.
Ques. Where do you lose fat first? (3 Marks)
Ans. Fat loss is more about genetics and less about the shape of the body.
Janet Brill, a nutritionist from Philadelphia, says that fat loss is different for everyone and fat loss at a place where it has gained recently. Example is if a person gets more fat accumulated recently in the waist, the person will lose fat from the waist in the initial stage.
In the case of women, they lose fat quickly in the face, back and calf. But, it will take time to lose fat present in the hips, butt and thighs as these are important for childbearing function due to nature.
Men lose fat first from the belly area. Women initially lose fat in all areas, but they hold fat in thighs and hips. Also, predominantly, they will lose fat in the lower body.
Visceral fat or hard fat’s accumulation inside organs is dangerous as it leads to inflammation. Soft fat or subcutaneous fat is just located beneath the skin and is not dangerous like hard fat.
Ques. What are the Visceral organs? (3 Marks)
Ans. Splanchnology is known as the study of the visceral organs, which are digestive, urinary, reproductive, and respiratory systems. It includes all the components of the Neuro-Endo-Immune Supersystem.
Visceral organs are the soft internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest like the heart or lungs or within the abdomen such as the liver, pancreas, or intestines. Visceral organs comprise the lungs, heart, and organs of the digestive, excretory, reproductive, and also circulatory systems. The normal position and function of each visceral organ must be known before the abnormality can be ascertained.
The left and right kidneys lie in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the spine in the superior lumbar region of the posterior abdominal wall. The liver is the largest visceral organ in the body, which occupies the right hypochondrium, much of the epigastrium.
Do Check Out:
Comments