Even though each person’s experience is different, practically any weight loss journey will have its ups and downs. A sudden change in schedule, diet, overall health, or activity levels can make it harder to shed pounds despite best efforts. In some ways, knowing how to best prime yourself for these interruptions can be a helpful tool against backsliding. Now, new research suggests that losing the right kind of belly fat might be the best way to achieve lasting weight loss.
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A new study noted not all visceral fat is created equal.
The latest information comes from a study published last month in the journal BMC Medicine. In it, a team of researchers used data from two separate controlled 18-month trials involving 572 participants. In each, MRIs were used to measure people's visceral fat and monitor changes following diet and exercise modifications.
Visceral fat is found below the muscle and surrounds our internal organs, including the liver and intestines. It contributes to a larger mid-section or apple-shaped body. Subcutaneous fat, on the other hand, is found just below the skin.
"Visceral fat is a precursor to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. These conditions, in combination, heighten the risk of serious health complications like stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes," writes SciTechDaily. "Excessive visceral fat is also linked with dementia, cancer, asthma, liver and gall bladder diseases, fertility issues, lower back pain, and osteoarthritis."
However, the study found that there was a significant difference between two different measures of visceral fat: proportion of visceral fat to overall abdominal fat and the total area of visceral fat. Results found that patients carrying more visceral fat area were more likely to have indications of inflammation and insulin resistance in their diagnoses.
There’s a link between insulin resistance and weight loss.
Coincidentally, these findings could shed light on another issue related to weight loss. According to Cleveland Clinic, insulin resistance—which describes a decreased efficiency in the way your body responds to insulin on a cellular level—is correlated to having excess body fat, especially in the abdomen area. Over time, this condition can lead to hypoglycemia and ultimately type 2 diabetes.
Other research has also connected health issues found in the most recent study with persistent weight issues. One study published in March 2022 conducted in mice found that acute inflammation was also a factor in persistent weight gain.
In the most recent study, results also found that participants who lost more area of visceral fat saw a reduction in insulin resistance and inflammation. This might suggest that those carrying excess visceral fat could be fighting more of an uphill battle when it comes to keeping the weight off.
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The study also sheds light on how to tackle other serious health issues.
Since results of the recent study also showed that patients with a higher proportion of visceral fat saw issues such as elevated triglycerides and other cardiovascular disease risks, exams could help patients approach the problem from the right angle—and make it easier overall.
"Understanding visceral fat dynamics could lead to more effective strategies," Hila Zelicha, PhD, co-lead author of the study, said in a press release. "People with a high visceral fat proportion may benefit from different dietary and exercise approaches compared to those with a large absolute visceral fat area."
The takeaway:
According to new research, there are different ways visceral fat can affect our health. Results found that patients with a higher proportion of visceral fat were more likely to have issues with triglycerides and blood lipids, while those with a higher overall visceral fat were likely to have markers for inflammation and insulin resistance. Other research has shown that insulin resistance can be exacerbated by excess weight in the abdomen, and acute inflammation could actually lead to persistent weight gain.
However, the findings of the latest research could make it easier to help chart out a plan to tackle the issues head-on.
"For clinicians, dietitians, and researchers, these findings offer a new framework for evaluating weight-loss success—one that considers not just how much fat is lost, but what kind of fat is lost and how it affects metabolic health," Iris Shai, PhD, the study’s principal investigator from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, said in a press release. "As precision nutrition and personalized medicine evolve, these results could pave the way for more effective interventions that help people achieve better long-term health outcomes."
