The number of studies looking at what is known as low-grade, systemic, or chronic inflammation has skyrocketed over the last few years. This growing body of research has strengthened its association with a number of chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease.
On July 15, another study, this one published in the American Journal of Cardiology, demonstrated the association between low-grade inflammation and poor fitness in overweight and obese people.1 The researchers also showed that the relation between obesity and inflammation is attributable specifically to deep belly fat, or visceral adipose tissue, rather than to excess body weight overall.
What is Visceral Adipose Tissue?
The fat that accumulates around our midsections (“belly fat”) is composed of two types. One is the more superficial fat, known in medical terms as “subcutaneous adipose tissue”. The other is deeper, located in the abdominal cavity underneath the abdominal muscles. This second type is known as “visceral adipose tissue” or “visceral fat”.
Recent research has proven that both types of belly fat act as actual organs, releasing hormones and other substances that affect the immune system and metabolism. The deeper fat, or visceral adipose tissue, has the greatest effects.
The cause of increased visceral adipose tissue and the degree by which it causes disease is related to excess calories and lack of adequate exercise, combined with genetic predisposition, age and environmental influences (e.g. drugs, dysfunction of other body organs, toxins, etc.).2
The Risks of Increased Visceral Adipose Tissue
As this study shows, visceral adipose tissue is especially adept at expressing substances that increase the overall level of inflammation inside the body. As their levels of deep belly fat increased, so did the subjects’ levels of inflammation, as did their risk of being resistant to insulin (a precursor to diabetes).
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be considered overweight by conventional standards (including the widely used Body Mass Index (BMI)) in order to have increased levels of deep belly fat. You still may have alarmingly high levels of low-grade inflammation, and you’re still at higher risk for metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance and diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.2
References
1. Arsenault BJ, Cartier A, Côté M, et al. Body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and low-grade inflammation in middle-aged men and women. Am J Cardiol 2009; 104:240-246. Abstract.
2. Bays HE, González-Campoy JM, Henry RR, Bergman DA, Kitabchi AE, Schorr AB, Rodbard HW; Adiposopathy Working Group. Is adiposopathy (sick fat) an endocrine disease? Int J Clin Pract. 2008 Oct;62(10):1474-83.
