New research suggests that visceral fat may be the driver of inflammation and other health issues. Unlike regular adipose tissue, which is the fat you can pinch beneath your skin, visceral fat lies deeper, in and around the organs.
To many, fat is seen as nothing more than an energy reserve. In times of need, such as during a calorie deficit, you can tap into this reserve. But scientists have suspected that visceral fat acts more like an active organ than a storage unit. A new study put this to the test, examining how visceral fat influences inflammation-related proteins.
Researchers measured about 360 of these proteins and tried to find potential links between them and health markers such as visceral fat, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides. They used body scans and blood tests from nearly 900 adults participating in two clinical trials.
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Visceral fat left the biggest mark by far. Over 60% of the proteins tested were linked to visceral fat levels. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and insulin resistance also showed similar correlations. However, when researchers adjusted for visceral fat levels, many of these links disappeared. In other words, when the researchers compared people with similar amounts of visceral fat, many of the inflammation-protein links to blood sugar and blood pressure didn’t hold up.
The results suggest that visceral fat has the biggest impact on inflammation. Since the measurements were taken at one specific moment in time, the results do not prove causation, only association. With that said, the association is quite strong.
We know that obesity is linked with many negative health outcomes, but this research shows that the type of fat also matters. Where your body stores fat may be just as important as how much it stores.
This story was originally published by Men’s Fitness on Nov 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Fitness as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
