Visceral Fat
Fat stored around internal organs — the most dangerous type of body fat.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Visceral fat is the deep belly fat that wraps around your liver, pancreas, and intestines. Unlike fat under your skin, this type actively produces harmful substances and raises disease risk.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is metabolically active, secreting pro-inflammatory adipokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and contributing to insulin resistance. VAT area > 100cm² on CT is considered elevated.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Reducing visceral fat — even without major weight loss — significantly improves metabolic health. Exercise and GLP-1 agonists are particularly effective at reducing VAT.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.