The Claim

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio in humans.

Source: These Foods Store Immediately as Visceral Fat

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
44score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
3 studies reviewed
In plain English

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a higher proportion of fat stored around internal organs compared to fat stored under the skin.

See the scientific wording

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption increases the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio.

Why this might work

When you drink sugary beverages, the fructose in them goes straight to your liver, where it gets turned into fat. This fat builds up in the liver and makes it less responsive to insulin. As a result, your body stops storing fat under the skin and starts storing it around your organs instead, because the organs get more fat from the blood due to how their fat-storing enzymes work.

Verified mechanismbased on 3 studies

What the research says

3 studies

  1. Study: Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Risk of Visceral Fat Accumulation Among University Students in Thailand.

    People who drank more sugary drinks like iced tea had more fat around their organs compared to fat under their skin, and the more sugary drinks they drank, the more organ fat they had.

  2. Study: Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with abdominal fat partitioning in healthy adults.

    People who drink sugary sodas regularly tend to have more fat around their organs (visceral fat) compared to fat under the skin, even if they don’t weigh more overall. This study found that sugary drinks specifically make your body store fat in the dangerous belly area.

  3. Study: Sugar-sweetened and diet beverages in relation to visceral adipose tissue

    People who drink more sugary sodas tend to have more fat around their internal organs compared to fat under their skin, even if they don’t gain overall weight. This means sugary drinks may be especially bad for belly fat that’s linked to health risks.

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These Foods Store Immediately as Visceral Fat

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Read analysis

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 3 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.