Hormonal
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and ectopic fat accumulation are stronger predictors of insulin resistance and metabolic comorbidities than total body fat mass (BMI), primarily due to increased lipolysis, free fatty acid (FFA) spillover, and inflammatory cytokine secretion.
Don't just look at your weight. Focus on reducing visceral and ectopic fat through lifestyle changes that improve metabolic health, as fat distribution is a stronger predictor of disease risk than total body fat. Regular physical activity and nutritional management can help shift fat storage away from visceral and ectopic sites.
However, more than its total amount, the distribution of adipose tissue throughout the body is a better predictor of the risk to the development of those disorders. Fat accumulation in the abdominal area and in non-adipose tissue (ectopic fat), for example, is associated with increased risk to develop metabolic and non-metabolic derangements.
Why this rating
The paper is a comprehensive review citing multiple observational and mechanistic studies, establishing strong consensus on the VAT-IR link.
Source
Obesity, insulin resistance and comorbidities ? Mechanisms of association
Ana Valeria Castro et al. · Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia · 2014
DOI 10.1590/0004-2730000003223
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