A new study has found that visceral fat – the hidden belly fat stored deep in the abdomen – can accelerate the ageing of your heart.
Unlike subcutaneous fat, which sits just below the skin, visceral fat surrounds organs including the stomach, liver and intestines. People with high visceral fat can look slim or even have a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight.
“While being active is important, we found that hidden fat could still be harmful even in fit people,” says Professor Declan O’Regan, who led the research.
For this study, published in the European Heart Journal, scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London analysed data from 21,241 participants in the UK Biobank.
Using whole-body imaging, they mapped fat distribution and examined the heart and blood vessels in detail. Artificial intelligence was then applied to assign each participant a 'heart age', based on signs of organ ageing such as stiff or inflamed tissues.
The study found differences between men and women. Men are more likely to store visceral fat around the belly, which is linked to faster heart ageing.
Women are more genetically disposed to carry fat around the hips and thighs in a 'pear shape', which may slow the heart’s ageing. Higher oestrogen levels in premenopausal women were also associated with slower heart ageing, suggesting that the hormone could play a key role in protecting the organ.
Blood tests showed that visceral fat is linked to increased inflammation, another potential driver of premature ageing.
Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We already know excess visceral fat around the heart and liver can lead to increased blood pressure and high cholesterol, so it is concerning that it could also help to speed up ageing of the heart and blood vessels.
"As the pattern of fat distribution typically seen in women’s bodies is linked to oestrogen, that hormone may be key to future therapies developed to tackle heart ageing.
“Eating a healthier diet and becoming more active can help to reduce visceral fat levels.”