Too much of any type of fat is bad for your health. But excess fat around your waist hurts your health in a way that the fat underneath your skin (subcutaneous fat) doesn’t.
This visceral fat (or abdominal fat) raises your risk of serious health issues – like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and high cholesterol.
Researchers believe that visceral fat pumps out substances that inflame your body’s tissues and organs, and interfere with the hormones that regulate weight, mood and brain function – increasing your stress levels.