Chylomicrons May Preferentially Promote The Accumulation Of The Abdominal Visceral Fat
There are several similarities and differences between chylomicrons and intestinal VLDLs. Regarding their similarities, both are apolipoprotein B-48-containing lipoproteins. They are also secreted to the capillary-rich lamina propria by the enterocytes . However, their transport routes are quite different, which may determine the fat depot they will preferentially supply their dietary fat to.
Chylomicrons preferentially promote the accumulation of the abdominal visceral fat. High-fat meal, which triggers more chylomicron production, decreased the proportions of meal fat stored in the subcutaneous fat of both men and women . The unaccounted for meal fat in that study was likely stored in the abdominal visceral fat. It is important to note that the unaccounted for meal fat was found previously to be correlated with the amount of abdominal visceral fat .
Chylomicrons Are Retained Longer in the Intestinal Mucosa
Electron microscopy studies also show that during the postprandial state the lipoproteins in the lamina propria are bigger than those in the lymphatic lumen, further supporting the notion that chylomicrons do not enter the lymphatic lumen as readily as their smaller counterparts VLDLs . Importantly, unlike the lumen of the blood capillaries, the lamina propria and the lymphatic lumen are visibly congested with chylomicrons.
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Review Contents
The term belly fat refers to the fat that surrounds the abdomen. There are two forms of belly fat: one is called visceral fat and the other is called visceral
Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds a persons internal organs.
Subcutaneous fat is fat that is under the surface of the skin.
Health issues caused by visceral fat are far more dangerous than those caused by subcutaneous fat.
To lose belly fat, people can undertake a variety of lifestyle and nutritional adjustments.
What Are The Health Risks Of Visceral Fat
Having visceral fat in the belly is a sign of metabolic syndrome, a collection of disorders that include high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol and insulin resistance. Together, these increase the risk of stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Having too much visceral fat in the belly can also cause:
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Menopausal Hormonal Belly Bulge
Weight gain is a common effect of menopause. The hormonal changes that contribute to weight gain actually begin during perimenopause, a few years before menopause.
Menopausal weight gain primarily affects the abdomen. Factors that contribute to belly fat at this stage of life include:
- fluctuations in hormones such as estrogen
- sleep deprivation
The Science Behind Belly Fat
Belly fat refers to “visceral fat” or “omental fat”the fat pad that surrounds your abdominal internal organs. Having an excess amount is thought to be linked to heart disease, and metabolic syndrome, which includes diabetes and obesity. Fat cells secrete chemicals that change our metabolism.
Compared to the fat on your thighs, for example, visceral fat cells are more highly active because they are a direct food source for the internal organs, Dr. Mike Hoaglin, MD, Medical Director for DrHouse, explains. They secrete more inflammatory chemicals called cytokines that make it more difficult to lose weight and lower blood sugar, especially when too much is present.
Because the belly is so close to the liver, it is constantly sending fat into the liver and then the bloodstream, which in turn can increase cholesterol and overall markers of body inflammation. A high quantity of visceral fat also blocks beneficial hormones like adiponectin that normally help increase fat-burning and lower blood sugar.
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You Live A Sedentary Lifestyle
Diet and lifestyle also play a role. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to having higher amounts of that hard-belly visceral fat . Women are more likely to store fat as subcutaneous fat than visceral fat, though they start storing visceral fat when they reach menopause.
There are many ways to get started moving moreeven getting up and walking around more frequently during the day matters. If you want a gym routine and don’t really know where to start, try this total body workout.
How To Tell If You Have The Ovary Belly Type
Those with the ovary belly type may experience heavier periods during their menstrual cycle, headaches, acne outbreaks and ovarian cysts. Hip and knee pain, depression and increased water retention, libido problems and night sweats can also occur. The solution in this type also refers to balancing the hormone levels, but in some cases, medical treatment might be requiredif ovarian cysts are present, for example. A diet thats rich in protein and healthy fats from plant-based sources, rather than those from dairy or animal sources, is more likely to help get rid of this type of belly.
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The Anatomy Behind Big Stomach
The excess abdominal fat surrounding different organs in your stomach is known as belly fat it is divided into different categories: a layer that fits directly after the skin, which is known as subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat, which is placed deep under the muscles over your stomach.
Out of the two, visceral fat is the type that potentially poses a lot of dangers towards your health if found in excessive amounts. These health problems include:
- Abnormal cholesterol
- Breathing problems
Essential steps need to be taken to control belly fat as some of the researchers have studied that average body weight is not the answer. Even after not having excess weight and overall average body weight in women, expanded waistlines can potentially lead to untimely death and highly increase the chances of cardiovascular disease.
You Don’t Move Enough
Americans spend more than 10 hours a day in a seated position. Although diet plays a major part in weight gain, lack of movement contributes, too. To avoid putting on extra pounds in your belly and elsewhere in your body, get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise each week.
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Youre Experiencing New Cravings
Hormones might cause your hormonal belly if youre experiencing some new cravings that are unusual for you, especially for sugary foods. If youre finding yourself with a constant sweet tooth, your body might be struggling with insulin resistance.
Due to your cells not properly absorbing insulin, high insulin levels will signal your body to store more fat. Elevated insulin levels can also cause increased amounts of the hormone leptin, which gives you a feeling of fullness after eating. High leptin levels combined with insulin resistance can lead you to start excessively eating sugary foods, resulting in lower belly weight gain over time.
How To Get Rid Of Belly Fat
The strategies below may assist people in losing excess abdominal fat:
A well-balanced diet can help a person lose weight while also improving their overall health.
Sugar, greasy meals, and processed carbs with minimal nutritional value should all be avoided. They can replace it with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbs.
A person who is seeking to decrease stomach fat should keep an eye on their alcohol use. Alcoholic beverages frequently include added sugar, which can lead to weight gain.
Sedentary behaviour can lead to a variety of major health issues, including weight gain. Exercise should be a part of anyones daily routine who is attempting to reduce weight.
People who exercise both aerobically and strength-wise can reduce their abdominal fat.
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Why Do Women Gain Belly Fat In Midlife
And is there any way to target it through diet or exercise?
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Q: Im a woman in my late 40s and for the first time Ive developed belly fat. Is there any way to target it through diet or exercise?
If youre a middle-aged woman and youre noticing that your midsection is expanding, the first thing to know is that youre not alone.
This is a physiological change that, unfortunately, really happens to virtually all women as we age, said Victoria Vieira-Potter, an associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri. Its not something you did, she added, or an indication that youre letting yourself go, so to speak.
In the years leading up to menopause, Dr. Vieira-Potter said, levels of hormones like estrogen shift. And research suggests that these shifts likely lead to changes in body shape, she said along with hot flashes, mood changes, irregular periods, trouble sleeping and more. This perimenopausal transition, which typically begins between 45 and 55 and lasts for about 7 years, officially ends one year after the last period. At that point, women are said to be in menopause.
In other words, Dr. Vieira-Potter said, women start to adopt that apple shape instead of the pear shape.
How To Tell If You Have The Adrenal Belly Type
If your belly looks as if it drops toward the legs and you have a lot of stress going on in your life, plus you tend to worry excessively, experience frequent episodes of brain fog or crave salty foods, it might be a sign that your adrenals are tired and you need to give yourself a break! The solution for this group of people is NOT to go on a restrictive diet or to double the time spent at the gym.
The most important thing for those with a stress belly is to manage their stress levels, and ensure they get enough rest and sleep. In regards to nutrition, people concerned with stress belly fat should ensure theyre getting enough protein in their diet, as well as consuming plenty of vegetables which will give them the potassium they need to help deal with stress.
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Foods That Have Been Fried
Fried foods overburden the stomach, causing acid reflux and heartburn. Fried meals, according to Rothenberg, sit in your stomach similarly to processed foods. Because of the high fat content in fried dishes, digestion takes significantly longer. These meals are shockingly harmful and should be avoided.
How To Tell If You Have The Thyroid Belly Type
Those with a thyroid or hormonal belly may suffer from frequent headaches, poor circulation, hair loss and brittle fingernails. They can tend to crave sweets and usually prefer sugary, starchy carbs like bread, but carbs like this should be consumed in moderationpreferably only during and after exercise to provide a quick energy burst as having too many carbs wont help them lose belly fat.
Instead, these people should focus on restoring the normal production of hormones and lowering their oestrogen levels with the help of a healthcare professional. With regards to nutrition, ensuring they get enough protein in each meal and even including fish oils into their diet will be beneficial. Determining what causes lower belly fat in the thyroid type is important as this will have an effect on whats best in their diet to help reduce it.
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What Is Visceral Body Fat
Visceral body fat, also known as ‘hidden’ fat, is fat stored deep inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, including the liver and intestines. It makes up about one tenth of all the fat stored in the body.
Most fat is stored underneath the skin and is known as subcutaneous fat. That is the fat that is visible and that you can feel. The rest of the fat in the body is hidden. That is visceral fat.
Visceral fat makes the belly stick out or gives a person an ‘apple’ shape. It also produces chemicals and hormones that can be toxic to the body.
Visceral fat produces more toxic substances than subcutaneous fat, so it is more dangerous. Even in thin people, having visceral fat carries a range of health risks.
Visceral fat is more common in men than in women.
How To Lose Belly Fat Naturally
There are many factors that can contribute to belly fat, but one of the most common culprits is eating too much. Women tend to eat more than men, and when we overindulge in unhealthy foods, the excess calories stored in our bellies can easily accumulate. However, there are plenty of ways to lose belly fat without having to overhaul your diet. Here are a few tips:
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1. Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine. Exercise helps burn off calories and the body, which can help reduce belly fat. Not only does exercise help you lose weight, but it can also improve your overall health, mood, and outlook. Check out our article on how exercising can help you lose weight for more information.
2. Avoid eating late at night. The hours just before bed are often when we tend to overeat and consume high-fat foods. These foods will not only add inches to your waistline, but theyll also contribute to belly fat accumulation over time.
3. Avoid eating high-calorie foods and drinks constantly throughout the day. If you find yourself snacking on high-calorie foods or drinks throughout the day, try limiting yourself to two or three
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Dietary Fat Is Preferentially Stored As The Abdominal Visceral Fat By Men
The fat that is taken up by the adipocytes is primarily from lipoproteins, lipid particles with triglycerides in their core. The fact that men and women have different intestinal lipoproteins can potentially determine which body fat depot the dietary fat will be deposited to.
The organ that arguably secretes the most amount of fat is the small intestine, particularly during the postprandial state. Recall that the small intestine is surrounded by the abdominal visceral fat. Therefore, it is not surprising that the abdominal visceral fat can take up quite a significant amount of dietary fat from the intestinal lipoproteins. Studies have shown that about 21% of the ingested fat is stored in the intraperitoneal fat and about 6% of it is stored in the retroperitoneal fat by men . In contrast, only about 5% of the ingested fat is stored in the intraperitoneal fat by women . These studies further support the notion that sex difference in regional body fat distribution is primarily determined by fat uptake rather than lipolysis.
Why Is My Stomach Growing Not Pregnant
Some causes may be related to stress, alcohol consumption, or medications.Other causes can be a result of health conditions like hypothyroidism or PCOS. Many causes of stomach swelling and weight gain can be treated with lifestyle changes and medications. However, others, such as ascites, can be serious.
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You’ve Started The Change
In women, the combination of aging and the loss of estrogen at menopause adds up to weight gain. Genes, loss of muscle mass, and overeating also contribute to weight creep in your 40s and 50s. The extra pounds that might have settled in your hips earlier in life now cluster in your middle, also thanks to hormone changes. That weight shift does more than make your pants tighter. It can also raise your risk for heart disease.
Youre Not Maintaining A Healthy Diet
In a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found evidence that people who ate more refined grainsa category that includes white bread, white rice, muffins, bagels, pancakes and the likehad more visceral fat. In contrast, people who ate whole grainsbrown rice, oatmeal, popcorn, and grains like kasha and bulgurhad less visceral fat. Check out this list of whole grains you should be adding to your diet .
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Incorporate Exercise Into Your Daily Routine
Exercise is helpful for maintaining a healthy body weight. The CDC recommends adults between the ages of 18 and 64 get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity physical activity such as walking, and at least two days per week of strength training activities.
Finding exercise that you enjoy doing is key. However, studies show that aerobic exercise at low to moderate intensity at least twice per week burns more visceral fat than eating habits alone.
Other studies observed effects of low-intensity aerobic activity and resistance training on visceral fat loss and found that both groups achieved results, however, the resistance training group achieved more rapid results.
To get the most out of your time and training efforts, aim to incorporate both weight bearing resistance training workouts and aerobic workouts into your weekly routine.
Before making any dietary changes or starting a weight loss program, be sure to consult with a medical professional.
Men Produce Bigger And More Chylomicrons Than Women
To better understand why mens abdominal visceral fat takes up more dietary fat than womens, a closer look at the process of dietary fat absorption is necessary. Dietary fat is digested and absorbed by the small intestine. The absorbed dietary fat is secreted by the enterocytes in two major forms: chylomicrons and VLDLs .
Unlike VLDLs that can be produced during the preprandial states, the production of chylomicrons is primarily driven by dietary fat intake . Importantly, when the small intestine is challenged with a higher amount of fat, it will produce bigger chylomicrons . These bigger chylomicrons tend to accumulate in the intestinal mucosa, as reflected by the higher recovery of the intraduodenally infused lipids in the intestinal mucosa, lower recovery in the lymph, and minimal recovery in the lumen at the end of the 6-h study. Since men generally consume a higher amount of dietary fat due to their higher energy intake , they are expected to produce bigger and more chylomicrons than women.
From the animal to human studies discussed above, we can conclude that men transport more dietary fat through chylomicrons most likely because these chylomicrons are bigger and more than those of women. These sex differences in lipoprotein secretion can be further attributed to mens higher intake of fat and possibly hormonal regulation.
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