Visceral fat is the most dangerous for blood vessels.
Scientists from McMaster University (Canada) have found that the most dangerous fat for blood vessels is not the one visible in the mirror. A study published in the journal Communications Medicine (CM) showed that visceral fat, which surrounds the organs, and fat that accumulates in the liver cause 'silent' damage to the vessels, even if a person appears slim.
MRI analysis of more than 33,000 participants from Canada and the UK revealed that this 'hidden' fat is linked to the thickening of the walls of the carotid arteries — an early sign of atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attack. Moreover, the effect persisted even after accounting for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other common risk factors.
The authors emphasize that the conventional body mass index (BMI) does not reflect the true state of the body. According to them, health assessment should consider not only body weight but also fat distribution, which can be determined using modern imaging techniques.
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