Abdominal fat and how it affects your health, from the Harvard Men's Health Watch
“How much should I weigh?” It’s a common question, and an important one. Surprisingly, though, it’s actually the wrong question. For health, the issue is not just how much you weigh, but how much of your fat is located in your abdomen, reports the January 2009 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.
Abdominal fat comes in two different forms. Some of it is located in the fatty tissue just beneath the skin. This subcutaneous fat behaves like the fat elsewhere in the body; it’s no friend to health, but it’s no special threat either. Fat inside the abdomen is another story. This visceral fat, which is located around the internal organs, can damage your health.
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