While a certain amount of body fat is healthy and in fact essential to your body’s processes, there is one kind of fat to be wary of: visceral fat. Visceral fat is fat that wraps around your abdominal organs, and cannot always be detected just by observation.
Compared to subcutaneous fat, which lies just underneath your skin, visceral fat is more likely to raise your risk for serious medical issues. Heart disease, Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are some of the conditions that are strongly linked to visceral fat.
How to Measure Visceral Fat
There are several methods to measure the presence of visceral fat, such as BMI, hip-to-waist ratio, skinfold, bio impedance, among other body composition calculators. However, the most accurate way to measure visceral fat is with a DEXA scan.
DEXA is commonly used to assess bone density, but can also be used to measure body composition. It is considered the gold standard for measuring body composition, and is one of the few ways to precisely measure visceral fat. DEXA scan reports depict readings of bone mineral density, lean body mass and fat mass.
DEXA scans are safe, precise, reliable and quick, with tests taking just minutes. When it comes to visceral fat, test results reveal not just how much fat you’re carrying, but how it’s distributed around your body.
Getting Rid of Visceral Fat With DEXA Scans
There is no magic trick to get rid of visceral fat, other than following a healthy exercise routine and diet plan. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Walking, bike riding, resistance training, and yoga, are all great exercises to incorporate. Follow a healthy diet and try to avoid processed foods and sugar.
Over time, you can follow up with a DEXA scan to track your progress and adjust your routine as needed to meet your goals. DEXA scans can help keep you accountable and seeing tangible results will motivate you to stay on track.
If you’re concerned about your visceral fat levels, take control of your health and schedule a DEXA scan appointment today.