Fat hidden deep around the organs “accelerates ageing of the heart”, new research has highlighted.
A recent study from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London has found that excessive amounts of visceral fat can cause the heart and blood vessels to age faster.
Previous research has identified that hidden fat is harmful to your health, but this is the first study to associate visceral fat with accelerated heart ageing.
On the other hand, fat around the hips and thighs can reduce heart ageing in women, the findings have suggested.
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During the investigation, the team of researchers examined the fat levels of 21,241 adults in the UK Biobank.
The scientists used artificial intelligence to analyse detailed imaging of the participants’ heart, blood vessels, fat and the location of fat in the body to assess any signs of organ ageing.
Participants with more visceral adipose tissue were more likely to display signs of faster heart ageing compared to those with lower levels of visceral adipose tissue – a type of body fat stored around the abdominal organs, including the liver, intestines, pancreas and heart.
Unlike subcutaneous fat, which is found just beneath the skin, visceral fat is located deeper within the abdominal cavity, meaning it cannot be seen from the outside.
According to the results, visceral fat is associated with greater inflammation in the body, which can trigger premature ageing.
First author Professor Declan O’Regan said: “We have known about the apple and pear distinction in body fat, but it hasn’t been clear how it leads to poor health outcomes.
“Our research shows that ‘bad’ fat, hidden deep around the organs, accelerates ageing of the heart. But some types of fat could protect against ageing – specifically fat around the hips and thighs in women.”
He added: “We also showed that BMI wasn’t a good way of predicting heart age, which underscores the importance of knowing where fat is stored in the body and not just total body weight.
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“The goal of our research is to find ways to increase healthy lifespan. While being active is important, we found that hidden fat could still be harmful even in fit people.”
He concluded: “In the future we plan to investigate how drug therapies, such as GLP-1 inhibitors (e.g. Ozempic) could improve not just diabetes and obesity but target the ageing effects of hidden visceral fat.”
Professor Bryan Williams OBE, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, noted: “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.”
To read the study, click here.
