Visceral fat, sounds evil doesn’t it? It’s the layer of fat that environs the inner organs of your abdomen. In other words it’s your “beer belly” or “beer gut.” Excesses of fat are dangerous factors for heart illness and Type 2 diabetes.
What causes stomach fat so important over other kinds of body fat are the inflammatory molecules that visceral fat produces and goes into the bloodstream. These inflammatory molecules flow throughout the body and can start a condition recognized as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome presents with symptoms like increased blood pressure and reduced HDL cholesterol.
The first and most common recommendation to combat metabolic syndrome is to create alterations in lifestyle, specifically to reduce calories in the diet and add activity levels. A new research by the University of Illinois has shown that exercise alone may be just as efficient as the mixture of diet and exercise.
The twelve-week study was done on rats in four groups: a sedentary control group, a diet-only division, an exercise-only group, and a group that combined a low fat diet with exercise. The only big differences in the visceral fat in the mice at the end of the study were found in the two divisions that incorporated exercise. Albeit the exercise-only division maintained a high fat diet, the exercise showed to be sufficient to reduce the inflammatory belly fat.
This is persuading news for individuals with a “pot belly” who are starting to show symptoms of metabolic syndrome. The exercise program created for the research was at a very modest level. The human equal of the exercise would be a 30 to 45 minute walk five days a week. The equal amount of exercise is recommended by the U.S. Department of Health to reduce the risk of other chronic illnesses.
Health advantages can be obtained for most people by engaging in physical movement. This study furthers that claim by showing direct connection linking exercise and reduced belly fat. It’s just more proof that you must make time in your life for a little of physical activity each day.
Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes mostly about diet and fitness news. He’s also interested in giving diet tips for everyone.