Belly Fat of US Teens and Children Increased By Over 65% Since 1999, Researchers Say
Belly fat is more dangerous for health than overall weight gain, there is a much closer link between visceral fat - the fat around your internal organs - and serious diseases.
08/11/06 The tummies of US teens and children have 65% more fat than in 1999, say researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Belly fat is more dangerous for health than overall weight gain, there is a much closer link between visceral fat - the fat around your internal organs - and serious diseases.
After looking at data from various US surveys, the researchers found that:
-- In 1999 10.5% of children/teens had too much belly fat
-- In 2004 17.4% of boys had too much belly fat
-- In 2004 17.8% of girls had too much belly fat
The researchers said that children can restore their long-term health outlook much more effectively than older adults if they make some adjustments to their lifestyles.
What is Visceral Fat (Belly Fat)?
There are two types of fat, cutaneous fat and visceral fat. Cutaneous fat is found below the skin. Even though we may not like it, cutaneous fat is less dangerous for health than visceral fat. Visceral fat is located deep in the abdomen and surrounds our vital organs.
Visceral fat is metabolized by the liver, turns into cholesterol and circulates in the bloodstream. LDL (low-density lipoproteins), otherwise known as bad cholesterol, forms plaques and builds up in the arteries, gradually blocking them.
Previous studies have found that people who eat a lot of saturated fats have a higher risk of building up undesirable amounts of visceral fat (High-Fat Diet Ups Dangerous 'Hidden' Fat).
Other studies have indicated that inactivity significantly raises the risk of visceral fat build-up (Physical Inactivity Rapidly Increases Visceral Fat; Exercise Can Reverse Accumulation).
