CARDIOVASCULAR RISK...THE TRUTH ABOUT ABDOMINAL FAT
ABDOMINAL FAT falls into two categories:
1) SUBCUTANEOUS FAT - found just below the skin
2) VISCERAL FAT - which surrounds the vital organs deep within the abdomen.
VISCERAL FAT is less obvious than subcutaneous fat, and is sometimes called “hidden fat”. It is only visible with the use of CT scans or MRI, so even THIN or NORMAL-WEIGHT people can have it!!
VISCERAL FAT causes excess fatty acids to drain into the liver and muscles...This triggers changes in the body, and results in INCREASING LDL "BAD" CHOLESTEROL, DECREASING HDL "GOOD" CHOLESTEROL, ELEVATED TRIGLYCERIDES, ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE, and makes INSULIN less effective in controlling blood sugar...leading to INSULIN RESISTENCE AND INCREASED FASTING GLUCOSE.
THE REALITY? EXCESS VISCERAL FAT leads to HEART DISEASE, CANCER, STROKE, TYPE 2 DIABETES, ARTHRITIS AND MORE.
AS DIETITIANS, FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK, WE LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING: Abdominal measurements (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio) even among those who fall within a normal BMI category.
REMEMBER: ONE CAN BE "TOFI" - "THIN OUTSIDE FAT INSIDE"!
WE SPECIALIZE IN DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED PLANS to decrease your VISCERAL FAT and IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH. LET'S GET STARTED!!
