There are two types of belly fat:subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Chances are that you are not very happy with your belly fat, but do you ever think about what type of belly fat you have and how it affects your health?
The subcutaneous fat is located between your skin and your muscles. It is the layer that falls further over your pants when you arrive. Swimming armbands or love handles sound a bit more fun, but in the end it's all the same.
Read also: Can you have strong abs without seeing them?
The second type is also sometimes called organ fat; a layer of fat around your vital organs. A little visceral fat is not bad and even necessary. It protects your organs from shock and impact. But if that "little bit" gets bigger, it could become a problem. Visceral fat is dangerous for your health. Too much organ fat puts pressure on your organs and disrupts your hormone function. It pushes your belly out and is directly linked to high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
You can look slim, but have too high a fat percentage due to visceral fat. You can be just as unhealthy as someone who is visibly overweight. In English they have a apt name for this:skinny fat.
To determine whether you have an increased risk, the waist circumference is also taken into account. As a woman, it should not be above 80 centimeters. From 88 centimeters in circumference there is an increased risk to your health and it is really time to change your lifestyle. And not by strict guidelines now and then, but by eating and living healthier on a structural basis.
