Where Does Body Fat Pose the Greatest Health Risk?
While fat plays vital roles in energy storage and organ protection, excess fat in certain areas can silently endanger health—even in people with normal weight. Here’s where "bad fat" hides and how to combat it:
1. Heart: The Silent Intruder
"When fat storage sites overflow, fat infiltrates heart muscle cells, disrupting function," warns Dr. Ruth Loos, a preventive medicine professor at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Solution: Burn more calories than you consume through diet and exercise.
2. Liver: The Metabolic Saboteur
Fat exceeding 5–10% of liver weight causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (linked to diabetes and high cholesterol).
Good news: "Diet changes and exercise can reverse liver fat," says Dr. Loos.
3. Eyes: A Cholesterol Warning
Fat deposits around the cornea (called arcus senilis) manifest as a white ring. Often harmless, they may signal high cholesterol or atherosclerosis—prompting a lipid check.
4. Belly: The Danger Zone
Excess abdominal fat raises risks for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Apple-shaped bodies (waist >85cm for men, >80cm for women) face higher threats than pear shapes.
Fix: Targeted weight loss and cardio.
Safe Fat Zones
Breasts/hips/thighs: Subcutaneous fat here (fueled by estrogen) doesn’t disrupt metabolism. For women, it’s energy storage for pregnancy.
"No need to eliminate these if weight is normal," notes Dr. Frank Greenway.
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