This Fat is Increasing Your Risk of Chronic Disease

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Sep 2, 2025

Dr. Sean O’Mara, a physician with a diverse background from undercover narcotics to army ER doctor, dives deep into the hidden dangers of visceral fat. He explains why this type of fat is more dangerous than cholesterol, acting as an inflammatory organ that raises the risk for chronic diseases. O’Mara shares practical tips for detection and how simple lifestyle changes can significantly shrink visceral fat. He emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and proactive health measures to combat this overlooked health threat.

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INSIGHT

Visceral Fat As A Silent Disease

Visceral fat is a disease-like structural tissue that drives chronic illness and premature death.
Dr. Sean O'Mara argues it may be more deadly than cancer and is widely under-recognized.

INSIGHT

Fat That Acts Like An Inflammatory Organ

Visceral fat secretes inflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha that act systemically.
Its blood supply and portal access let it distribute inflammatory molecules throughout the body.

INSIGHT

Immune Suppression And Heart Risk

Visceral fat undermines immune surveillance by suppressing natural killer T cells, linking it to cancer risk.
Epicardial fat directly inflames coronary arteries and correlates with heart attacks.

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Could tackling visceral fat be the key to finally reversing the chronic disease crisis?

Unlike the fat you see on your waistline, visceral fat hides deep inside your body, wrapping around organs like your liver, pancreas, and even your heart. And far from being inert, this fat acts like an inflammatory organ, fueling disease, undermining your immune system, and raising the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart attacks.

In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Sean O’Mara, a physician with an extraordinary background (from undercover narcotics agent to Army ER doctor) who has spent over a decade studying visceral fat.

Dr. O’Mara explains:

🐍 Why visceral fat is the true “head of the snake” driving chronic disease

🧪 How to detect it (and why most doctors ignore it)

💪 The surprising lifestyle interventions that can shrink it (fast).

⚠️Why visceral fat may be the single most dangerous and overlooked threat to your health

It may fly under the radar, but visceral fat isn’t beyond reach. With the right tools and lifestyle changes, we can take back control of our health—and rewrite the future of chronic disease.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Sean O’Mara

Website: https://drseanomara.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drseanomara/
X: https://x.com/DrSeanOMara

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.