There are two key types of fat in our bodies, explains geneticist Giles Yeo, a professor of molecular neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge. “Subcutaneous fat lives under the skin largely and has a tendency to accumulate around the hips, bum, thighs and underarms. It’s considered the ‘healthier fat,’” he says.
square NEWS Losing weight is twice as hard if you're eating UPFs, scientists find
Read More
Then there’s visceral or ectopic fat “which tends to live around the organs,” Yeo explains. “We all have some level of visceral fat, but if you have a lot of it, this could look like a beer belly, for example. You see very typical middle-age men who have otherwise relatively skinny arms and legs, but a really tight beer belly – that’s what we consider visceral fat and it’s associated with a number of metabolic conditions and diseases.”
Men tend to accumulate more visceral fat than women, Yeo says, though this can change after menopause when hormonal changes mean they tend to store more fat around the abdomen.
“More worryingly, some people have very little body fat, but lots of visceral fat.” This is why it’s also referred to as ‘hidden fat.’ It is possible to be carrying excessive amounts of both types of fat though.
Ignore body fat percentages and instead, keep an eye on your waist and neck
When it comes to the health implications of excess body fat, as it’s where the fat is located that’s most important, Collins says body fat percentages or BMI calculations may not be particularly helpful in painting the full picture. “Waist circumference is a better predictor of how much visceral fat you may be carrying,” he says. The NHS offers an online guide that helps you calculate your waist-to-height ratio to help to give an indication of this. In general, it recommends aiming to keep your waist size to less than half your height.
Meanwhile, excess fat in the neck can contribute to sleep apnoea via a physical effect, he adds. “More fat in the neck and around the epiglottis can contribute to sleep apnoea through a mechanical effect – including fatty tongues which are more liable to collapse and block the airway when folk lie down to sleep. Weight loss improves this.”
Put simply, fat loss is about maintaining a calorie deficit, “eating less and moving more so that you increase your daily energy expenditure,” he explains. Exercise “helps by increasing your muscle mass and therefore your metabolic rate, or metabolism, which will eventually encourage more fat loss over time.”
So what’s more important, diet or exercise? Both. “Yes moderate activity burns fat, but activity alone is a hard way to lose weight, though it does lead to lower fat and higher muscle mass,” says Sateer. “For most people, it’s about dietary changes to cut weight sustainably which then lowers ectopic fat in the liver for example, so that your risks for metabolic disease decline.”
Try fasting or carb cycling – and get a good night’s sleep
Sleep has a significant impact on our hunger hormones – we often crave sugary or fatty snacks when we’re sleep deprived. Getting consistent, quality sleep promotes hormone regulation, insulin sensitivity, circadian rhythm alignment and reduces inflammation.
Hence then, the article about ask an expert what s the quickest way to shed belly fat was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ask an expert: What’s the quickest way to shed belly fat? )
Also on site :
- One person in critical condition following two-vehicle collision on SR-126 at Boosey Road
- Supermarket timings for Boxing Day and New Year revealed for Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl and more
- EastEnders airs reunion for 'Witches of Walford', shock arrest, and Cindy & Max hook-up for Christmas 2025