Visceral fat in three key areas linked to decrease in heart health

The heart may age faster in people who have too much fat around their organs, experts warn today.

A study found visceral fat hidden around the stomach, intestines and liver is linked to increased inflammation. Worryingly, it can be carried even by those who are fit and stay trim.

Some fat, notably on the hips and thighs in women, can protect against heart ageing, according to the latest research. Knowing where fat is stored in the body is more important than 'total body weight' when it comes to predicting heart age, according to the study backed by the British Heart Foundation.

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For the study, led by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London, experts looked at UK Biobank data from 21,241 people, including whole body imaging mapping fat.

Artificial intelligence analysed the images to detect signs of organ ageing, which includes inflamed tissue.

Each person was given a heart age, compared to their actual age at the time of the scan. Researchers found hearts aged faster in people with more visceral fat.

An apple-shaped figure, with more fat around the stomach, was linked to early heart ageing in men. The so-called 'pear shape' protects women against heart ageing despite fat on legs and thighs.

Declan O'Regan led the research at MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College, London.

The expert, also British Heart Foundation (BHF) professor of cardiovascular AI, said: "Our research shows that 'bad' fat, hidden deep around the organs, accelerates ageing of the heart.

"Some types of fat could protect against ageing, specifically fat around the hips in women." Body mass index (BMI) may not be a good way of predicting heart age, according to the research.

Knowing where fat is stored in the body, rather than total body weight, is important.

"The goal of our research is to find ways to increase healthy lifespan," Prof O'Regan added.

"While being active is important, we found that hidden fat could still be harmful even in fit people.

"We plan to investigate how drug therapies, such as GLP-1 inhibitors could improve not just diabetes and obesity, but target the ageing effects of hidden visceral fat."

Prof Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, said: "As the pattern of fat distribution typically seen in women's bodies is linked to oestrogen, that hormone may be key to future therapies developed to tackle heart ageing.

"Eating a healthier diet and becoming more active can help to reduce visceral fat levels.

"The study was funded by the MRC, National Institute for Health and Care Research Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, and the BHF.