Glossary · Conditions

Visceral adiposity

Also called: Visceral fat, Central adiposity.

Definition: Visceral adiposity is fat stored within the abdominal cavity around internal organs, distinct from subcutaneous fat under the skin. It is more metabolically active, secretes inflammatory cytokines, and contributes to cardiovascular and diabetes risk. Postmenopausal estrogen withdrawal shifts fat distribution toward visceral storage.

Detailed definition

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) lies within the abdominal cavity surrounding the liver, intestines, and kidneys, distinct from subcutaneous adipose tissue. VAT is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat — it secretes adipokines and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), contributes to insulin resistance, and produces estrogens via aromatase. Visceral adiposity correlates more strongly with cardiovascular and metabolic risk than overall BMI. Waist circumference is the simplest clinical surrogate; measured cutoffs in women suggesting elevated risk are >88 cm (35 in). Postmenopausal estrogen withdrawal shifts fat from a gynoid (hip-thigh) distribution toward an android (visceral abdominal) distribution, raising metabolic risk independent of total weight. HRT modestly reduces visceral adiposity in randomized trials.

Why it matters in menopause

Visceral fat is the menopause weight-distribution shift that matters metabolically. Resistance training, adequate protein, and HRT (when indicated) all help mitigate it. Waist circumference tracking is a simple in-home metric.

Sources

External references: Wikipedia.

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