The Impact of Visceral Fat on Health and Chronic Diseases

Visceral fat, located around organs like the liver, kidneys, and intestines, is highly active and produces molecules like cytokines. These cytokines can lead to chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, dementia, and kidney disease. Individuals with excess visceral fat are more prone to severe outcomes from illnesses like COVID-19 due to the high production of interleukin-6. Visceral fat hinders the body's ability to burn fat effectively, slows down metabolism, causes inflammation, and disrupts hormone levels, leading to various issues like gynecomastia in men and facial hair growth in women. Moreover, visceral fat affects the brain, contributing to memory loss and potentially leading to conditions like Alzheimer's. Additionally, the sugar produced due to visceral fat can fuel cancer cells, making it detrimental to overall health and wellbeing.