HHS HealthBeat (May 03, 2007)

Gut fat

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It’s not just fat you have to worry about – it’s where you have the fat. Excess fat around your organs, known as intra-abdominal fat, is worse than fat that hangs over your belt.

Sam Klein of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has an idea what makes intra-abdominal fat worse. He looked at very obese people, and checked blood from a vein that goes through intra-abdominal fat.

The blood had higher levels of a protein associated with inflammation, which carries higher risks of conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

But Klein says people can reduce their risks.

``It’s decreasing calorie intake, and exercise – because exercise alone, even without losing weight, can cause a reduction in intra-abdominal fat.’’ (9 seconds)

The study in the journal Diabetes was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: May, 03 2007