When we talk about weight loss we tend to focus on the overall number on the scales but belly fat, medically known as “visceral fat”, has been linked to Type 2 diabetes, and increased inflammation. Having excess belly fat is correlated with an elevated risk of heart disease. Your visceral fat percentage is a key indicator of your health, not necessarily just the number on the scales. Fortunately, the Doc’s strategy can help you trim the fat - literally!
Why your Belly fat matters
Research has found that people aged between of 40 – 69 are at higher risk of heart disease with a larger or apple shaped waist. The greater the waist / visceral fat, the higher the heart attack risk in women.
Carrying excess levels of visceral fat is also linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
Why Belly fat is the most dangerous fat
Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease but even those who maintain a BMI in the normal ranges may be at risk if they have excess visceral fat. This is because fat in the abdominal cavity is associated with increased risk of high blood sugar, inflammation, elevated triglycerides and lower levels of HDL “good” cholesterol, making it more dangerous than fat stored elsewhere in the body.
Thus, in two people with the same BMI, the person who has more of an apple shape and stores fat in their abdomen is at higher risk of heart disease than the one who stores their fat elsewhere.
Doc Fact: looks can be deceiving! It’s true that a larger or more apple shaped waist can indicate higher levels of visceral fat, although, thinner people can also hide dangerous levels of visceral fat depending on their body composition.
What’s the Big Deal?
Losing visceral fat can help reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease and improve diabetes, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. In fact, dropping your fat, even just by 5%, can reverse the effects of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle and has been shown to directly reduce the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Trim The Fat
Our Doctor’s suggest that the key ingredients to trimming your visceral fat is to ensure that you’re:
- eating the right foods and the right amount of food for you; and
- doing some form of regular resistance training (not just walking but strength training exercises).
Doc Tip: The Doc recommends sticking to a healthy, well-balanced diet; making sure to up your intake of lean proteins, vegetables, and complex carbs like sweet potatoes, beans, and lentils.
See the Doc to measure your Belly Fat
Our Doctors can accurately measure your changes in visceral fat to help you get where you want to be. You can book in with your nearest Doc here.
Our Doctors use the latest advanced bio-impedance body composition analysis which gives you a highly clinically accurate measurement of your visceral fat and whether you’re in excess.
The Doc’s proven strategy is focused on dropping your fat for a healthier, not just a lighter, you. At your consult with the Doc, they will prescribe a recommended calorie intake per day for you to begin on your medical weight loss meals to work on banishing your belly fat for good!
Doc Goal: The goal to successful weight loss and keeping it off is to preserve as much muscle as possible, or possibly even gain some, while at the same time lose fat to a healthy range.
The Doctor’s Kitchen Australia is Australia’s only Doctor prescribed weight loss meals for fat loss and metabolic health which are recommended by a Doctor, uniquely and exclusively available through a Doctor and then monitored by the doctor through regular follow up appointments.
Our Doctor prescribed medical weight loss meals are naturally healthy and nutritionally balanced for all diet and lifestyle choices; including complete dairy and gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and Mediterranean menu options. We want to meet your body’s needs with our portion and calorie-controlled weight loss meals that focus on achieving long-term good health.
Book in with a Doctor now to get started or email us at info@thedoctorskitchen.com.au.
We service most of suburban Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Ipswich areas, Redland Bay, Wynnum West, Upper Coomera, Capalaba, Chermside, Coomera, Manly, Upper Coomera, Greenbank, Helensvale, Jimboomba, North Maclean, Rochedale South, Rothwell, Victoria Point, Hamilton, Auchenflower, Alexandra Hills, Carina, Carindale, Lutwyche, The Gap, Walton Bridge.