The Body Fat That You Can't See Can Hurt You

The body fat that can be seen and felt is known as subcutaneous fat. This fat lies just beneath the skin. 'Love handles' on men and the 'jiggly' fat located on the back of the upper arms of some women are examples of subcutaneous fat.

A new study has shown that subcutaneous fat may prove beneficial because it offers protection against diabetes (Read...)

Abdominal or visceral fat (some have even labeled it 'toxic' fat) is worse than fat in other areas of the body. This fat is found deep in the abdomen. Fat cells located in the abdomen are metabolically active. Abdominal fat can negatively affect the liver by affecting its ability to manage cholesterol. Visceral fat makes insulin less effective. This increases the risk for diabetes; it also releases fatty acids which can lead to coronary artery disease, stroke and certain cancers.

New research has come out from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showing that fat cells deep inside the abdomen (visceral fat) secrete molecules that increase inflammation. In 2004 researchers at this same university discovered that surgically removing abdominal fat through liposuction does not provide the metabolic benefits associated with the same amount of fat loss through dieting or exercise. Samuel Klein, MD, Danforth professor of medicine and nutritional science and senior investigator in both studies said this, "despite removing large amounts of subcutaneous fat from beneath the skin-about 20 percent of a person's total body mass-there were no beneficial medical effects." (Read...)

The only effective way to reduce visceral and subcutaneous fat is through nutrition and exercise. Quick fixes such as liposuction surgery is useless. Weight training is absolutely necessary when you reach your fortieth birthday. That's the age when the body begins to lose muscle, and accumulate fat. Lifting weights will reverse that natural progression. More...

A Canadian research team has found that abdominal fat tissue makes a hormone known as NPY (Neuropeptide Y) which prompts the development of cells that change into fat. High levels of this hormone in the brain produce never ending feelings of hunger.

"This may lead to a vicious cycle where NPY produced in the brain causes you to eat more and therefore gain more fat around your middle--and then that fat produces more NYP hormone which leads to even more fat cells," said Dr. Kaiping Yang, lead researcher.

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