Browse evidence-based analysis of health-related claims and assertions
Even people with a large waist size can have normal levels of internal fat: about 1 in 3 men and women in this study had this, showing waist size isn't always a perfect indicator of visceral fat.
Even among people classified as obese by BMI, about 1 in 4 men and 1 in 10 women don't have excess fat around their organs, showing BMI doesn't always reflect internal fat levels.
Even people with a normal waist size can have too much fat around their organs: about 1 in 4 men and 1 in 12 women in this study had this hidden fat, showing waist size alone isn't always reliable.
Among people with a normal weight (BMI under 30), about 1 in 10 men and 1 in 9 women have too much fat around their internal organs, showing that weight alone doesn't always reveal hidden health risks.
In a group of middle-aged people, about 3 out of 10 women and men have too much fat under the skin of the belly, while about 4 out of 10 have too much fat around their internal organs, based on CT scans.
More exercise during free time is linked to lower heart disease risk scores for two common assessment tools.
Drinking alcohol more often is linked to higher heart disease risk scores, but not for one specific scoring method.
Men with belly fat under the skin ate processed meats like bacon more often than men without belly fat.
Men with more belly fat around the organs drank alcohol more often and in larger amounts per session compared to men without belly fat.
Whether young men have abdominal obesity or not, their smoking habits were similar.
Belly fat loss occurs in three distinct layers, with the third layer being the most stubborn and difficult to reduce, where less than 1% of individuals achieve complete elimination.
Temporary calorie surplus during prolonged calorie restriction reduces cortisol levels, improves sleep quality, and decreases hunger signals.
Elevated cortisol levels cause water retention, leading to temporary bloating and increased abdominal appearance.
Fat tissue contains beta receptors (promoting fat release) and alpha-2 receptors (inhibiting fat release), with stubborn fat areas (lower abs, love handles, hips, glutes) having higher alpha-2 receptor density.
Metabolisms can be categorized into 'spend thrift' (maintains calorie burn during calorie restriction) and 'thrifty' (reduces calorie burn during calorie restriction) types.
Visible abdominal definition in men typically occurs at approximately 20% body fat, while women achieve waist tightening at approximately 28% body fat.
Women typically store a higher proportion of body fat in the hips, legs, and arms compared to the abdominal region.
At higher body fat percentages (>30%), fat loss occurs more rapidly in extremities (arms, legs, hips) than in the abdomen; abdominal fat loss accelerates once body fat drops below 25%.
For men, body fat exceeding 25% results in the abdominal region becoming the preferred site for fat storage, making it both easier to gain and harder to lose fat in this area.
Increased waist circumference is associated with a higher risk of metabolic disease and mortality, independent of total body weight.
Men typically exhibit higher body fat percentage in the abdominal region compared to other body regions.
DEXA scans provide regional body fat percentage measurements for specific body areas, including arms, legs, hips, and abdomen.
Even after accounting for many other factors that could affect insulin sensitivity, the link between oral bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites and better insulin sensitivity still holds true.
There are many different types of oral bacteria that can convert nitrates to nitrites, and together they make up about 20% of all oral bacteria in most people.