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 Zon...