Visceral fat is fat stored deep in the abdomen around organs such as the liver and intestines, distinct from subcutaneous fat under the skin. It is metabolically active, releasing inflammatory signals that contribute to insulin resistance, high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.
Visceral fat cannot be measured by scales; waist circumference approximates it and a DEXA scan quantifies it directly. Encouragingly, visceral fat usually responds early to improved nutrition and activity, often before the scale changes much.