Not all fat is equal. Research by Després and Lemieux shows visceral fat—deep abdominal fat surrounding organs—is metabolically active and dangerous, secreting inflammatory chemicals and disrupting hormones. Subcutaneous fat you can pinch is relatively inert storage. Visceral fat strongly predicts heart disease, diabetes, and mortality independent of total weight. Waist circumference matters more than the scale.
This companion covers the two fat types, why visceral fat is dangerous, measurement methods, and what increases or reduces it. (5 min read)