The Dangers of Visceral Fats

All fats are not created equal. Unlike the subcutaneous fat that you can easily pinch, visceral fat is stored in the abdominal cavity. Visceral fat is sometimes referred to as “active fat”. This is because it can “actively” increase your probability of serious health issues. Without CT scans, it is hard to really know how much visceral fat you are carrying around, however, you can calculate your waist-to-hip ratio. To calculate your WTH, simply follow these simple steps:

1. Stand up straight
2. Measure the smallest part of your waist (right above navel). This is your waist circumference.
3. Measure the widest part of your hips. This is your hip circumference.
4. Now, divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference and this is your WHR.

According to the World Health Organization, a waist-to-hip ratio above .85 for women and .90 for men is indicative of too much visceral fat and considered obese. This definitely would put you at risk for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and other threatening medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, cancer and Alzheimers disease.