Why belly fat is dangerous to your health: Here’s how to lose it

For decades, the term “beer belly” was reserved almost exclusively for men. Today, however, growing numbers of women are noticing a stubborn expansion around their midsections that seems resistant to diets, workouts, and quick fixes. Health experts warn that what many people are battling is visceral fat, a dangerous form of internal fat that poses serious long-term health risks.

Unlike the soft fat you can pinch, visceral fat lies deep inside the abdomen. It wraps itself around vital organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines, silently interfering with how the body functions. “Visceral fat is a silent health threat,” explains Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.

“You might appear healthy on the outside, but still carry excess internal fat that puts pressure on your organs. It’s strongly linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even certain cancers. The encouraging part is that lifestyle changes can significantly reduce it.” The body stores fat in two main ways.

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Subcutaneous fat is the soft, visible fat just beneath the skin. It tends to collect around the hips, thighs, and arms, and, while not ideal in excess, is far less harmful. Visceral fat, on the other hand, sits deep in the abdominal cavity and is metabolically active.

This means it releases hormones and inflammatory substances that disrupt normal body processes. A small amount of visceral fat is necessary to cushion organs, but when levels climb too high, health problems begin to emerge. Research highlighted by Harvard Health shows that excess visceral fat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, heart disease, fatty liver disease, and even dementia.

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