Visceral obesity in women treatment. Signs of visceral obesity, symptoms and treatment. Other ways to increase a woman's hemoglobin

In which fat is mainly deposited on the abdomen, it is more typical for men, as it is associated with changes in the level of the hormone testosterone. If the abdominal type of obesity develops in a woman, this indicates an imbalance in her male and female sex hormones. The danger of this is that the accumulation of fat occurs not only in the subcutaneous fatty tissue, but also in the abdominal cavity, more precisely, in the organs located in it, which disrupts the functioning of, for example, the liver and pancreas (in such situations they speak of the development of visceral obesity) . According to statistics, every third person on the planet suffers from abdominal obesity, that is, they can develop diabetes at any time.

Attention! The figure of a person suffering from abdominal obesity resembles an apple. The development of pathology is indicated by waist measurements greater than 88 centimeters in women and greater than 102 centimeters in men.

Causes of abdominal obesity

Abdominal and visceral obesity, as a rule, complement each other. Most often their development is provoked by:

1. Disruption of the saturation center located in the hypothalamus. A person eats a lot, which means he receives thousands of extra calories due to the constant feeling of hunger, which is formed by taste buds.
2. Psychogenic overeating. Anxiety, depression and stress force a person to “eat up” problems and thus increase the level of serotonin, a hormone that gives a good mood and psychological comfort.
3. Hereditary factors. Body constitution is most often inherited, so if the mother has an “apple” figure, then with a high probability the daughter’s fat will be concentrated in the abdominal area, causing abdominal visceral obesity.
4. Changes in hormonal levels. As already mentioned, the deposition of belly fat is stimulated by the male hormone testosterone, so abdominal obesity is dangerous for women who not only have a growing belly, but also a threat of developing hirsutism, infertility and premature onset of menopause. Besides, Abdominal obesity may be caused by a lack of leptin- a hormone produced by the hypothalamus and responsible for the feeling of fullness.
5. Poor diet and lack of exercise. As a matter of fact, these factors provoke the development of obesity of any type, because calories received but not spent by the body turn into fat.

Why is abdominal obesity dangerous for men and women?

Experts say: men and women suffering from abdominal obesity are at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome - a condition in which the body's cells do not properly interact with glucose, which leads to the development of diabetes mellitus. In addition, their levels of lipids (fats) in the blood, including “bad” cholesterol, increase. Low-density lipoproteins settle in large quantities on the walls of blood vessels, narrowing their lumen and impeding blood flow - thus creating ideal conditions for the development of a stroke or myocardial infarction.

• abdominal obesity in women is accompanied by the production of a large amount of male sex hormones, which manifests itself in menstrual irregularities and male-pattern hair growth.
• abdominal and visceral obesity in men characterized by a decrease in sexual activity.

Treatment of abdominal obesity

In both women and men, abdominal (synonym: android) obesity is considered the most “stubborn”, since the “beer belly”, the “lifebuoy” at the waist and fat deposits on the chest are difficult to correct and cannot be removed with ordinary diets and exercises. Even modern cosmetology techniques do not always cope with belly fat. Although, diet, exercise and , applied comprehensively as part of an individual weight loss program, give good results- a person, albeit slowly, but still gets rid of visceral and abdominal obesity.

Those who want to get rid of belly fat should adhere to the following dietary rules:

• exclude appetite-stimulating alcohol, including beer, from the diet;
• switch to fractional meals - eat 5-6 times a day, consuming no more than 250 grams of food at a time;
• have dinner three to four hours before bedtime;
• exclude from the diet confectionery products, sweet drinks, sauces, fried and smoked foods, trans fats (margarines and spreads);
• limit fats and carbohydrates, but be sure to include vegetable oil, cereals and grain bread in the diet - this is necessary for the normal functioning of the pancreas and gall bladder;
• count calories - food calorie tables are available on the Internet;
• drink more than two liters of water a day, as water fills the stomach and slightly dulls the feeling of hunger.

As for sports exercises, then for abdominal obesity, aerobic rather than strength exercises are preferable, eg walking, jogging, cycling. Among salon cosmetology procedures, experts recommend seaweed wraps, myostimulation, vacuum massage, contrast baths and Charcot showers.

Attention! If diagnosed obesityIII or IV degree, and even burdened with a “bouquet” of chronic diseases (morbid obesity), then the most effective are , such as gastric banding, intragastric balloon placement, gastric bypass and gastroplasty.

Video: the dangers of visceral fat

Abdominal obesity, otherwise known as visceral fat, surrounds all the internal organs that are located in the abdominal cavity.

It also accumulates in the upper half of the body. Abdominal obesity is a serious threat to health, as organ cells gradually degenerate into adipose tissue.

Abdominal obesity requires treatment under medical supervision.

Abdominal obesity is not exclusively an aesthetic defect.

It poses a danger to human health and life due to the fact that it is one of the favorable factors for the development of the following pathological conditions:

• arterial hypertension;
• diabetes mellitus;
• malignant neoplasms;
• strokes and heart attacks.

According to statistics, large amounts of abdominal fat increases the risk of cancer by 15 times, coronary heart disease by 35 times, and the likelihood of strokes due to large deposits of fatty tissue in the abdominal area increases by 56 times.

Abdominal obesity has several names, the most common of which are:

• apple obesity;
• male pattern obesity;
• central obesity;
• visceral obesity.

1. Low-fat dairy products and fermented milk products.
2. Lean varieties of meat, poultry and fish.
3. Cereals.
4. Vegetables and fruits with low sugar content.

A diet for weight correction for abdominal obesity is not the only measure that must be applied without fail.

Physical exercise is an integral part of reducing the body's abdominal fat content.

The medicinal part of the treatment of abdominal obesity is used only when a diet with a reduced calorie content does not have the desired effect for 3 months.

• Regenon;
• Fepranon;
• Mirapont;
• Desopimon.

Their effect is based on accelerating the feeling of satiety. However, they have a number of side effects, the most severe of which is the body’s addiction.

One of the stages of obesity treatment is psychological support, which has the following goals:

1. Changing attitudes towards food culture.
2. Motivation to change eating habits.
3. A gentle push to reconsider your views on lifestyle in general.

Without the last point, even if excess weight is lost, the patient will not be able to maintain weight within the required limits.

Surgical techniques for getting rid of fat deposits in the abdominal area are aimed at partially removing the intestines or reducing the capacity of the stomach.

However, the consequences of such manipulations may be unpredictable in the future.

When the goal is to achieve a purely cosmetic effect, it is possible to use liposuction.

However, removing fat in this way in the absence of physical activity and unwillingness to change eating habits does not give a sustainable effect and can lead to even greater weight gain.

When undergoing a liposuction procedure, according to a study by scientists from the University of Sao Paulo, patients who neglected exercise and did not follow a diet increased the volume of visceral fat relative to the original by 10% over a period of 4 months after surgery.

The most rational and effective is considered to be motivating a person to lose weight and following medical recommendations (physical exercise of a certain intensity and frequency, a therapeutic diet), rather than direct medical intervention.

Ask an expert a question in the comments

Many people want to gain a toned, slender body, and are trying to get rid of unnecessary weight in all sorts of ways. Not everyone realizes that obesity is not a problem of appearance, but of the healthy functioning of the body, and internal fat is much more harmful than visible subcutaneous fat. Find out how to burn internal fat in your body.

What is visceral fat

The human body needs a subcutaneous fat layer - it is a reserve supply of vital energy and protection from the cold. Daily nutrition replenishes fat reserves, but when their amount exceeds the norm, fat begins to be deposited not under the skin, but around the organs. Internal fat in humans is located in the abdominal cavity near vital organs (lungs, liver, heart, stomach, kidneys). It is called visceral.

Excess abdominal fat can occur due to eating high-calorie foods, lack of physical activity, and bad habits. It is easy to determine the excess concentration of internal fat - an external sign is a visually protruding belly. The increase in waist circumference is especially noticeable against the background of other parts of the body that have retained the same proportions.

Why is visceral fat dangerous?

If the amount of internal fat deposits does not exceed the permissible level, they serve as protection for organs from external damage, as “insulation” and a reserve source of energy. Excess fat inside the abdomen is dangerous to health and can trigger the development of a number of diseases:

• increased cholesterol, which causes disorder of the cardiovascular system;
• Alzheimer's disease;
• elevated levels of insulin in the blood can cause cancer (breast cancer, colon cancer);
• hormonal complications leading to metabolic disorders;
• development of atherosclerosis;
• fatty hepatosis (liver disease);
• phlebeurysm.

Normal visceral fat

A healthy ratio of subcutaneous to internal fat deposits is approximately 90% to 10%. The norm for visceral fat is 10% of the total mass of the entire fat layer in the body. Normal abdominal fat levels are slightly different for men and girls. There are several ways to diagnose the percentage of internal obesity:

• nuclear magnetic resonance or computed tomography techniques;
• caliper - a device that measures the thickness of fat folds;
• determining the waist size in centimeters with a measuring tape;
• by calculating the ratio of the proportional ratio of the waist circumference to the hip circumference;
• by consulting a doctor for a thorough diagnosis.

The norm of visceral fat in a woman’s body

Women are less prone to developing abdominal fat than men. Those with a pear-shaped physique, with a thin waist and curvy hips are especially lucky - they are practically not prone to the formation of internal fat deposits. When measuring the waist, the critical indicator for girls is 88 cm; a value below this figure is the norm for internal fat in a woman’s body, and above this is already an excess.

Normal visceral fat in men

Although men are less likely to develop cellulite than girls, they are more prone to the accumulation of internal fat. Male hormones stop fighting fat, and the abdominal organs become overgrown with it. The norm for visceral fat in men is a waist circumference of no more than 94 cm. Indicators exceeding this norm indicate obesity and serious health problems.

Visceral obesity

With visceral obesity, internal organs cannot function normally, since the fatty membrane around them increases significantly. A person constantly feels tired, it becomes difficult to breathe, there is increased sweating, and frequent mood swings. With internal obesity, the risk of diabetes and cancer increases significantly. The main causes of visceral obesity are:

1. Unbalanced nutrition - the number of carbohydrates in the diet significantly increases the number of proteins.
2. A sedentary lifestyle is a lack of proper exercise in the form of active recreation, complex physical exercises, and walking.
3. Genetic predisposition - if parents suffer from obesity, the risk of internal obesity in children increases.

Visceral obesity in men

Fat deposits in men tend to accumulate around the internal organs, rather than under the skin. Often, men who love beer have a protruding belly - this is quite reasonable, since beer is the enemy of the male hormone. Testosterone, as a result of visceral obesity in men, is replaced by female hormones, which can lead to impotence and infertility.

Visceral obesity in women

After forty years, the production of female hormones decreases, metabolic processes slow down, and the likelihood of visceral obesity in women increases significantly. Internal obesity in young girls is one of the causes of infertility. When the genitals inside the abdomen are covered with fat, it is almost impossible to get pregnant. Women with an “apple” figure need to immediately fight the first signs of excess weight, because they are more prone to internal obesity than girls with other body types.

How to remove visceral fat

When wondering how to remove internal fat, people forget about the well-known rules of losing weight. If you want to remove visceral fat from your belly, gain a beautiful healthy body and look attractive, you should adhere to these basic principles:

• It is necessary to eat right, giving up high-calorie foods and “fast” diets, so that excess weight begins to disappear. The diet should be balanced - proteins predominate, complex carbohydrates should be consumed in the first half of the day.
• Be sure to regularly exercise, walk, run, and actively relax. Physical activity is the main weapon in losing weight.
• You should fight bad habits - smoking and alcohol will not allow you to lose excess weight, but will only increase it.
• It is necessary to normalize sleep and establish a daily routine. It is recommended to sleep at least seven hours a day, to fall asleep and get up at the same time every day.
• To speed up your metabolism, you should drink a lot of water - 2 liters per day.
• It is advisable to avoid stress, reduce nervous tension, and relax more often.

Video: how to get rid of visceral fat

In most cases, the motivation to lose weight is associated with the desire to simply look better, but obesity is not only unsightly folds on the sides and three chins, but also a direct threat to health.

Types of obesity, or what is visceral fat

Visually, we immediately notice excess under the skin, the so-called subcutaneous fat, but there are adipocytes throughout the body, and of course, with excess weight, fat deposits accumulate in the body cavities too.

Around all internal organs there is always a small layer of fat inside the so-called visceral membranes. In the abdominal cavity it is the peritoneum, around the heart is the pericardium, around the lungs is the pleura. The fat cells located here are capable of accumulating fat in the same way as subcutaneous cells, but the harm from visceral obesity is much greater.

Visceral obesity is also called abdominal obesity, since fat deposition occurs in body cavities, especially in the abdominal cavity. Even the heart can become fat.

Why is visceral fat dangerous?

In a healthy person, visceral fat helps organs stay in place, protects them from injury and cold, but if its amount is excessive, it is a threat to health.

Visceral obesity is directly related to the risk of developing metabolic syndrome(this is a deadly quartet of 4 diseases: type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and obesity).

Subcutaneous fat is less dangerous, but if you have significant body weight, your internal organs will still suffer to one degree or another.

Visceral obesity in men and women

The deposition of fat around the internal organs is invisible, unlike the subcutaneous fat layer. This type of obesity is called androgynous, since such fat deposition is most typical for men.

In women, high levels of hormones - estrogen - cause the predominant deposition of fat in the thighs and buttocks, and in the lower abdomen. This is necessary for successful bearing of offspring. Of course, the increase in volume for women will be obvious. In men, excess nutrition does not affect appearance for a long time, although body weight increases. Their body stores all reserves in their internal organs, and this is not so noticeable.

Starting to lose weight, women quickly lose volume and, at the same time, weight, while with visceral obesity, volume does not disappear at first glance, despite the weight loss. And only with significant weight loss comes a moment when the stomach also loses weight.

External manifestations of visceral fat are visible in people with hormonal disorders, beer drinkers and men living in conditions of high-calorie nutrition and constant stress (stress contributes to abdominal obesity). When excess fat accumulates in the omentum, a large bulging belly appears, and the arms, legs, and butt may remain thin.

For women, the risk of visceral obesity increases during menopause and with hormonal imbalances. Of course, if you have menopause, this does not mean that you will automatically begin to gain weight. The main reason, as always, is excess nutrition with insufficient energy expenditure.

Despite the fact that visceral fat is deposited in the abdominal cavity for a reason, especially in women, you can get rid of it using the same methods. You will lose weight in general, and you will lose weight “there” too. These are the general laws of our body: we need to expend more energy than it enters the body.

Specific points when getting rid of visceral fat should be considered the need to get rid of stress in your life and learn to go to bed on time. Excess cortisol in the body and hormonal imbalance play an important role in this type of fat accumulation.

. Your algorithm of actions is described in detail on our website.

Never try diets from the Internet.. The fact is that in your case, the body is prone to developing insulin resistance, and if you experience metabolism swings from intermittent fasting, overloads in the form of either deprivation or excess carbohydrates in food, your attempts to cope with the situation will only aggravate the problems.

In general, visceral fat is not a death sentence. You can also get rid of this type of obesity. Take your weight loss program seriously. Seriously - this means deliberately, we are not talking about some kind of mood for eternal starvation. You must act wisely and carefully, resorting to the help of a qualified doctor, and not recipes from unknown authors on the Internet.

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Visceral fat

A problem that is more typical for residents of developed countries, but has not escaped ours, is excess weight. This disease affects people of all age groups: both adult men and women, and children. But in representatives of different sexes it does not proceed in the same way. For women, gluteal-femoral fat deposition is more typical, while in men, even grade 1 obesity (initial stage) is determined mainly by an increase in waist circumference. What is the reason for the appearance of male excess weight of the first degree, how does the pathology proceed, what influences it, let’s look at it so that we can better understand what tactics to develop to combat this disease.

Common causes of the disease

The vast majority of men usually experience intense physical activity, work more and harder, but at the same time eat less flour and sweets. And yet they suffer from obesity on a par with the female sex. Why is this happening? The causes of male obesity lie in the hormonal sphere; to be more precise, there is a direct connection with the lack of the male hormone - testosterone. If the male body has enough testosterone, then the body weight of men is considered satisfactory, they feel fit, slim, they have muscles of impressive size, etc. When testosterone levels begin to fall, metabolic processes begin to fall more strongly under the influence of female sex hormones - estrogens, which men also have, but not in such significant quantities.

Estrogens in the body of men cause such an effect in metabolic processes as fat deposition. Gradually, the circle closes: in the abdominal cavity, androgen is converted into estrogen, and here the substance leptin is still produced, which blocks the formation of testicular androgen. And the process of fat deposition accelerates more and more. Without a doubt, ill-conceived nutrition, problems with the functions of the digestive tract, and physical inactivity help to accumulate excess weight. Such a common male habit as drinking beer invariably causes irreversible changes in weight. Nevertheless, disturbances in the hormonal system in men are considered to be the impetus for the development of the disease.

Diagnosis and types of disease

Measuring a man's waist circumference is sufficient reason to make a diagnosis. If the waist circumference exceeds 94 cm, then there is evidence of excess weight. A parameter of 102 cm is equal to degree 2 obesity in males and is 100% proof that a man’s testosterone level is reduced. The stage of obesity in men is also determined by simple arithmetic: by calculating the body mass index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing body weight by its height, which is first squared. Normal body weight is considered when the BMI corresponds to a value of 18.5-25.0. With a BMI of 25.0-29.9, weight is considered overweight. Grade 1 characterizes a BMI in the range from 30.0 to 35.0. 35.0-39.0 - 2nd degree, 40 and above - 3rd degree (morbid obesity). Outwardly it looks a little different than that of the fair sex. The fat of the stronger sex chooses the place of its localization - the waist area, thus forming a “beer belly”, sometimes making a man’s figure look like the shape of an apple.

You can compare the type of figures of different sexes by comparing 2 photographs. It is this feature of the male figure that causes the greatest harm to health. Excess fat in the body is distributed and stored in different ways. Based on the individual characteristics of the constitution and body, there are 2 types of obesity - peripheral and central. With peripheral distribution, fat accumulation occurs mainly in the tissue under the skin, and in central distribution, its accumulation occurs on the surface of internal organs.

Pitfalls of excess body weight

Since men are more likely to accumulate fat in the abdominal area, they are more likely to develop visceral obesity. Often, a predisposition to it is caused by congenital or genetic factors, nutritional disorders, and a love of consuming foods high in calories and containing sugar. What is this type of obesity and what dangers does it pose?

The visceral type forms an excess layer of fat around the heart, which puts pressure on the vital organ. As a result, the heart refuses to work as usual. As a result, arrhythmia, hypertension, shortness of breath, and increased fatigue appear. Fatty deposits surrounding the lungs prevent them from expanding fully. The patient begins to have difficulty breathing. The brain does not receive oxygen in the required volume and oxygen starvation occurs. The result is shortness of breath all the time, increased fatigue, and regular weakness. The spread of a layer of fat around the abdominal organs prevents them from functioning according to a similar principle.

In the body, metabolic processes are disrupted, diabetes mellitus, chronic gastritis, cholecystitis, and biliary dyskinesia develop. The prognosis for visceral obesity is not the most comforting - infertility and impotence. Obesity makes no exception for anyone: the consequences are unpleasant for everyone - both men and women.

Diagnosis of visceral type

There are different ways to conduct an examination in men of the visceral type. First option: measure your waist circumference. If a man's waist circumference is less than 94 cm, this is still normal. If the indicator is more than 94 and less than 101 cm, all the symptoms of excess weight are present and you should be especially attentive to your health. An indicator above 102 cm gives every reason to immediately seek advice from a clinic.

Indices have been developed to calculate the degree of accumulation of fat mass around internal organs.

1. WHR - the norm is less than 1. It is the ratio of waist and hips.
2. WTR - the norm is less than 1.7. The ratio of waist measurements to hip measurements. The thigh circumference is measured in the upper third part of it.
3. WAR is less than 2.4 (normal). The ratio of waist circumference to arm circumference in the middle part of the shoulder, where the biceps is at its maximum volume.
4. WhtR - the norm is less than 0.5. The ratio of waist size and height.

How to cope with such a difficult situation?

Of course, coping with stage 1 excess body weight in men is much easier than doing it in subsequent stages. But being alone is not as easy as it seems. Therefore, the advice received at an appointment with a specialist will be very valuable. After a conversation with the doctor, it will become much clearer how far the situation has gone and what the treatment tactics will be.

In any case, a man will have to change his diet. In this case, the nutritionist analyzes the food diary. The word “diet” does not sound very correct in this case, since a diet always involves a selected nutrition option for a certain period of time in order to obtain the desired result in weight and then it ends.

The entire diet of the day should be changed. Food products, indicating their quantities, must undergo a thorough analysis, after which fried foods, alcoholic drinks (especially beer), fatty foods, and sweets are removed from the list. Instead of excluded dishes, more liquid food (soups), fruits and vegetables, mainly fresh, and dietary poultry are introduced.

It is important to provide for an increase in physical activity. If shortness of breath is too strong and it is impossible to go to the gym, you should get into the habit of daily walks, which need to be increased from time to time both in time and in distance.

Walking should take from half an hour to 40 minutes a day, then it will give a positive result. If the patient decides to train in the gym, then, together with the trainer, he should select a proportionate load for the body with the possibility of its subsequent increase. In this case, the muscles will have time to grow, and the least amount of overload will be placed on the body.

As the patient’s body weight increases, the heart and vascular system, as well as the respiratory system, begin to take on loads above normal. And it takes time to reduce the layer of fat around them. To achieve significant weight loss, weight loss medications are sometimes prescribed. Group 1 of drugs (appetite suppressants): denfluramine, sibutramine, fluoxetine. They are prescribed exclusively by the attending physician due to the presence of side effects and a list of contraindications and are prescribed in life-threatening cases. Group 2 medications are substances that are designed to slow down the absorption of nutrients in the intestinal space. Xenical counteracts the absorption of fats. Acarbose eliminates the production of enzymes to break down starch, resulting in a small amount of carbohydrates entering the bloodstream.

Traditional methods for reducing appetite can also be successfully used to reduce food cravings. Teas from various plants are good for reducing appetite.

You can use the following preparation method: chamomile, birch buds, St. John's wort and immortelle in the same ratio are poured with boiling water and drunk 2-3 times a day. If a person has thought deeply and decided to get rid of excess weight once and for all, then the main commandment in such a situation is a long-term and complex combination of various techniques and techniques for weight loss with proper nutrition and leading an active lifestyle. The process may not be as fast as we would like.

However, all the efforts made will return many times over in the form of good physical shape and increased performance for many years.

Health and success!

Obesity is a serious disease in which fat deposits accumulate in the subcutaneous layer or in the internal organs. There are different types of pathology. One of them is visceral obesity. What it is?

Visceral obesity is a pathology in which fat cells are deposited in internal organs. In most cases, the heart and liver are affected. At the same time, the disease cannot always be noticed externally, because it does not necessarily have to be combined with general obesity.

When an internal organ is damaged, its functioning is disrupted.

The more fat is deposited, the harder it is for the body to work. Over time, adipose tissue affects more and more areas, enveloping the organ from all sides.

As a result, a person faces health problems. Many of them are quite serious and, if ignored, can lead to the death of the patient. Therefore, the disease must be treated when the first signs appear.

It is worth noting that visceral obesity affects not only overweight people, but also thin people. Therefore, it is impossible to judge him by a person’s appearance. To diagnose the disease, an examination of the body is required.

Causes

Visceral obesity develops as a result of exposure to adverse factors or diseases on the body.

The following phenomena can provoke the occurrence of pathology:

1. Genetic predisposition.
2. Hormonal imbalance, which often happens in women, especially during the period of bearing and feeding a baby, as well as during menopause.
3. Pathologies of the nervous system, in which a person constantly faces stress, psychosis, and depression.
4. Bad habits. Visceral obesity in men is often associated with the fact that they drink too much beer. When it is consumed, a hormonal imbalance occurs in the body, in which male hormones are replaced by female ones and the process of breaking down fat cells stops.
5. Inactive lifestyle. With sedentary work and lack of physical activity, fat is deposited better.
6. Impaired functioning of the hypothalamus.
7. Wrong nutrition. Obesity occurs among people who consume large amounts of junk food enriched with fats and carbohydrates. To maintain normal body weight, you need more protein than fat.
8. Non-compliance with diet, overeating.
9. Taking certain medications. Most often, rapid weight gain is caused by hormonal drugs, antidepressants, and tranquilizers.
10. Malfunction of the endocrine system.

If the disease is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, then curing it is much easier. To do this, you will first need to eliminate factors that influence fat deposition, for example, start following a diet, exercise, and give up bad habits.

Symptoms

In the initial stages, visceral obesity cannot be noticed, since it will be hidden inside. Only over time will the belly begin to enlarge, which will become a cause for concern. The more deposits accumulate, the more symptoms appear.

The following signs of pathology are possible:

1. High blood pressure.
2. Shortness of breath even with slight physical activity.
3. Edema of the lower extremities.
4. Failure in the functioning of the reproductive system, which manifests itself in the form of decreased sexual desire, deterioration of potency, and problems with conception.
5. Increased heart rate.
6. Nausea.
7. General weakness.
8. Fast fatiguability.
9. Irritability, depression.
10. Constant desire to eat.

To promptly identify problems with excess weight, you need to regularly use scales. If your body weight is abnormal, you should immediately visit a doctor. There is no need to delay the visit; excess weight should be eliminated in a timely manner.

Treatment methods

Various methods are used to treat visceral obesity. Successful therapy requires the use of several methods at once.

Nutrition adjustments

The main method of combating obesity is diet. The patient's diet should be balanced and varied. The main part should be proteins, the amount of carbohydrates and fats must be reduced to a minimum. The menu should not contain harmful products.

The following foods are not allowed:

1. Fast food.
2. Smoked meats.
3. Semi-finished products.
4. Sausages.
5. Fat meat.
6. Fatty fish.
7. Sweets.
8. High fat dairy products.
9. Bakery.
10. Confectionery.

The diet includes products such as:

1. Vegetables.
2. Fruits.
3. Berries.
4. Greenery.
5. Lean meats and fish.
6. Low-fat dairy products.
7. Dried fruits.
8. Cereals.

Medicines

Visceral obesity in women and men is not always eliminated by sports and diet; it is often necessary to resort to medications. During therapy, different groups of drugs are used.

In most cases, the drug Orlistat is prescribed. Thanks to it, the patient’s nutritional needs are met, which allows him to eat less.

If the patient also suffers from diabetes, then Metformin is prescribed. With its help, the level of absorption of fatty elements in the intestines is reduced. Analogues of glucagon-like peptide are used to suppress the feeling of hunger.

Under no circumstances should you take various dietary supplements or medications promoted by advertising and other sources. Products are often produced that supposedly help cope with obesity in a short time. Such medications do not bring the desired effect, but only cause harm to health.

Surgical intervention

If treatment of visceral obesity with medications, sports and diet does not help, surgery comes to the rescue. There are several types of operations that can help eliminate pathology.

These include the following:

1. Reducing the volume of the stomach by removing part of it or installing a special ring.
2. Shunt surgery on the small intestine.
3. Liposuction, in which excess fat is pumped out.

After surgical treatment, a rehabilitation period is required. During this time, the patient must refrain from exercise, take vitamins and other medications prescribed by the attending doctor.

Physical activity

Physical activity is one of the main methods of combating excess weight. To get rid of obesity, regular exercise is required. It is advisable to devote time to them daily. You can burn fat in different ways.

But it’s better to combine several activities, for example, doing exercises at home and going to the pool. Gymnastics, swimming, running, race walking and many other methods can help in the treatment of obesity. Your doctor will tell you what is more effective to do.

Why is it dangerous?

Obesity is dangerous to human health and even life. This applies to all types of pathology, including visceral. This is especially dangerous if fatty deposits cover the heart. When there are many of them, they begin to put pressure on the organ and blood vessels.

As a result, blood pressure is disturbed, the patient experiences severe headaches, and the likelihood of developing a heart attack and coronary heart disease increases.

Blood circulation in the body slows down, as a result of which the tissues do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients.

In addition to these problems, the following complications are possible:

1. Metabolic syndrome.
2. Diabetes.
3. Vascular atherosclerosis.
4. Stroke.
5. Menstrual cycle disorders in women.
6. Alzheimer's disease.
7. Formation of malignant tumors.
8. Phlebeurysm.

These pathological conditions are very dangerous to human life. Therefore, it is important to carry out treatment in the early stages of visceral obesity.

Localization of pathology

With visceral obesity, some features of the distribution of fat deposits are observed. However, they differ slightly in male and female patients, which is due to differences in the anatomical structure of their bodies.

Among women

In female patients, fat is most often deposited in places such as:

• hips;
• stomach;
• breast;
• pelvic organs.

In women, fat deposits are distributed more slowly than in men. But the first clinical signs are more vivid.

In men

Men accumulate fat much faster. Doctors explain this by the fact that patients of this sex have large muscle tissues that have some distance between the fibers, into which fat cells become clogged. The most favorite places for obesity in men are the following:

1. Stomach.
2. Shoulders and forearms.
3. Liver.
4. Pancreas.

Thus, visceral obesity is a serious disease that can lead to negative consequences for human health and life. If there are deviations in body weight, you must immediately take measures to eliminate them, preventing the development of the pathology in question.

This is the formation of excess fatty tissue near vital organs. Visceral fat reduces the resources of the latter, leading to the development of functional failure. Normally, a person’s body contains certain reserves of adipose tissue, which performs the following functions:

• shock-absorbing effect when falling, walking, bruises;
• protection of internal organs from various negative factors;
• serving as the body's internal reserve for nutrition under atypical circumstances.

The internal type of obesity is observed not only in people with excess body weight. Sometimes visceral fat accumulation is observed in thin patients.

To determine the true volume of fatty tissue in people of any body constitution, they resort to certain diagnostic measures. As a rule, deposits are localized in the iliac zone of the peritoneum (abdominal fat), on the hips, and the middle part of the back.

Visceral obesity in women is often deposited in the hips and waist, in men - in the abdomen.

Endocrinologists and nutritionists determine the presence of pathology only with pronounced manifestations of visceral obesity. The final diagnosis is made based on the results of the examination, during which instrumental and laboratory methods are used. To identify excess fat, you should measure a person's relaxed waist circumference. Safe indicators are:

• up to 102 cm in men;
• up to 90 cm in women.

To obtain a reliable result, the volume of visceral adipose tissue is determined by MRI diagnostics. This method helps to study all tissues of the body layer by layer, assess the general condition of muscles, joints, and other structures.

The norm is the volume of internal fat up to 15% of the total weight, while the level of lipoprotein density should not decrease less than 1.5 mmol/l. The body mass index of a healthy person does not exceed 25, especially with a sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity.

A woman's genetic predisposition to obesity is a common cause. Genes are responsible for appetite and metabolism in the body, for the breakdown of fats and their distribution.

But an important role here is played by the culture of food education, family lifestyle, and food preferences. If the family eats constantly, mother makes cheesecakes every day, then it is difficult for the growing generation to form a different view of food culture.

Hormonal changes

In fact, a woman is exposed to hormonal disruptions very often: teenage changes during puberty, changes during pregnancy, menopausal syndrome. In addition, after thirty years a woman naturally loses muscle mass and therefore she needs less calories, and on the contrary, a lot of high-calorie food comes into her diet.

Stress also plays a significant role in obesity. A woman “seizes” on her problems at work or family troubles.

Stress itself provokes hormonal disruption in the body, and if you also lean on food, then obesity will certainly occur.

Pregnancy and childbirth provoke a positive factor for the development of varying degrees of obesity. The fact is that during pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body occur.

In order to give birth on time, and not ahead of time, a large amount of the female hormone, progesterone, is produced. A baby in the womb requires twice the normal caloric intake.

You need to eat for two during pregnancy. When a child is born, the mother’s body experiences enormous stress, which also leads to disruption at the hormonal level.

In the postpartum period, lactation begins; this factor does not allow choosing a diet for a woman. It takes a long time to regain weight, and some will even have to resort to treatment for the disease.

Causes

The formation of visceral fat is associated with every link of metabolic processes. Obesity is accompanied by increased body weight and impaired sensitivity of the cell structures of internal organs to the hormone insulin. In addition to the high risk of developing diabetes, obese people have increased blood pressure, general health worsens, and cholesterol accumulations increase.

Doctors believe that a violation in the sensitivity of cells to the hormone insulin in the absence of a high glycemic index serves as a trigger for the development of diabetes mellitus and the appearance of excess weight. Factors that provoke the development of pathology include the following:

• hormonal disorders during pregnancy, menopause, lactation;
• diseases of the nervous system (psychosis, stress, panic attacks);
• heredity, predisposition to obesity;
• abuse of beer in men (in this case, testosterone is replaced by female hormones, which no longer take part in the process of fat breakdown);
• binge eating;
• malfunction of the hypothalamus;
• lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
• side effect after treatment with certain medications - hormones, tranquilizers, antidepressants;
• unbalanced diet (fat and carbohydrates predominate in the diet);
• decrease in serotonin (the hormone responsible for the feeling of fullness);
• diseases of the endocrine system (hypothyroidism, Itsenko-Cushing syndrome);
• metabolic disorders due to old age.

Heredity is recognized as one of the determining factors in the development of pathology. But the main provocateurs are poor nutrition and physical inactivity.

When overweight appears, absolutely all men are at risk, since according to statistics, 100% of overweight representatives of the stronger sex have excess internal adipose tissue.

Visceral obesity in women who are characterized by excess weight is observed in 50-60% of cases.

Another reason why visceral fat deposits are observed more often in men than in women lies in the decrease in the production of the male hormone testosterone. Its synthesis decreases with age, due to poor quality of nutrition, irregular routine, lack of sleep, low or too intense physical activity and harmful bad habits: smoking, alcohol abuse.

Types of obesity and their consequences

Characteristics of obesity	BMI (kg/sq. m)	Obesity level	Risk of developing other diseases
			Waist size for women is 80-88 cm, for men – 94-102 cm	Waist size for women – up to 88 cm, for men – up to 102 cm
Overweight	From 25 to 29.9	Excess weight	Elevated
	From 30 to 34.9	First degree		Very tall
Moderate	From 35 to 39.9	Second degree	Very tall
		Third degree	Extremely high	Extremely high

According to the nature of the pathology, it can be stable (body weight remains unchanged for a long time), progressive or residual (after weight loss, residual effects of visceral fat deposition remain). The disease is localized in:

• liver (fatty hepatosis is dangerous due to intoxication, since metabolism and bile formation are disrupted);
• heart (fat deposits cause cardiac dysfunction);
• pancreas (causes disruptions in the digestion process);
• kidneys (impairs urinary function, causes stagnation of urine, stone formation, development of inflammatory and infectious diseases).

What does obesity lead to? Different types of obesity lead to different health problems.

Abdominal

Most often, women suffer from abdominal problems, i.e. abdominal obesity. Fats are deposited in the abdominal area and peritoneum. This type is not difficult to determine. In the photo, people with abdominal obesity have a figure that looks like an apple. Here only the shape of the abdomen suffers; the rest of the body is normal at this stage.

The abdominal type of fat deposition is dangerous because it leads to diabetes, pregnancy is impossible for a woman, and hence infertility.

Abdominal obesity in women can develop into visceral obesity - when fat deposits appear on and around the internal organs. Fat begins to localize between the fibers of the heart muscle.

Visceral obesity is considered a threat. We cannot tell about this stage of obesity from a photo of such a person; it can be determined by passing tests and undergoing diagnostics.

Changes in the cardiovascular system occur inside the body, cholesterol and blood sugar increase, and the heart suffers. People who are sick with this type of obesity cannot fully move, and walking long distances causes them inconvenience, causing shortness of breath and tachycardia.

If obesity reaches a woman’s uterus, then you can forget about sex life. All these reasons lead to problems with conception, pregnancy will not be possible, there will be infertility, treatment will take a long time.

Obesity legs

Obesity of the legs (gynoid type) is obesity (lipodystrophy) and is classified as endocrine. With this disease, fat accumulates only on the abdomen, thighs and leg structure.

The figure of such people resembles a pear. It causes complications both from the cardiovascular system and the skeletal system - osteoporosis, osteoarthrosis.

Sufferers of this type complain of leg diseases and the inability to move. Sometimes the fat grows to such an extent that a person cannot lift his legs without assistance. Reproductive function also suffers - pregnancy cannot occur.

Male type

There is also android obesity - this is when fats are deposited according to the male type. In the photo, this degree can be determined by damage to such parts of the body as the upper abdomen and chest. The shape of the legs and hips remains normal, but the waist does not.

Mixed

Mixed type, when fats are distributed throughout a woman’s body. Characteristic signs of change in this type of disease can be determined visually. The figure in the photo of such a person will be covered with fat deposits evenly everywhere. The shape of the abdomen, the shape of the legs, arms, back, etc. suffer.

Obesity of any type causes irreversible consequences such as diabetes, infertility, colon and small intestine cancer.

Obesity causes menstrual irregularities - amenorrhea, which leads to the fact that a woman cannot become pregnant. Infertility in obese women is 33%, compared with 18% infertility in women of normal weight.

How to determine the extent of the disease?

It is easy to determine the degree of excess weight for men. To do this, you just need to change your waist size. Sizes above 94 centimeters are already a reason to think, and above 102 centimeters - one hundred percent obesity of the second degree and a reduced level of testosterone production.

The visual signs of excess fat in men are different from those in women. In the body of the stronger sex, fat is deposited in the waist area, which is why the well-known “beer belly” appears.

Hormone replacement therapy in women[edit]

As already mentioned, no special diet against visceral obesity has been developed. Therapy comes down to following the principles of a healthy diet and reducing calorie intake.

1. The process must begin with motivation. Without this, any undertaking is doomed to failure.
2. It is not recommended to test short-term diets that promise rapid loss on yourself. Besides the fact that such experiments can result in health problems and sagging skin, one cannot count on long-term results. All lost kilograms quickly return.
3. To calculate your individual daily caloric intake, it is better to use a formula or online calculator that takes into account height, weight, age, gender, intensity and level of physical activity. To reduce weight, you need to subtract 10% from the obtained figure. This amount of calories will be optimal for smooth weight loss without compromising your health.
4. It is also better to calculate the rate of water consumption using the formula. On average, 30 ml of water is needed per 1 kg of weight. Nutritionists insist on drinking pure water without gases or sugar. Liquid is necessary not only for all vital processes in the body, it also helps to remove breakdown products, released toxins from fat cells and is partially able to satisfy hunger. Below is a table with fluid consumption standards depending on weight.

1. The diet must be balanced according to BZHU. Each of the nutrients performs its own functions and a deficiency of each of them is fraught with negative consequences. For men, the BJU ratio is 30:20:50.
2. Proteins deserve special attention. Proteins act as building materials. Their share in the male diet is 30%. In addition, they give a feeling of fullness despite the relatively low calorie content. The diet must include fish, eggs, meat, poultry, and legumes from vegetable proteins.
3. Carbohydrates are also an important part of a healthy weight loss menu. But not all of them are equally useful. Sugar-containing products and confectionery products do not contain useful components and provoke sharp spikes in insulin in the blood. Healthy carbohydrates are found in cereals, vegetables, fruits, and cereals.
4. A diet for visceral obesity does not involve giving up fat. Only they should not come from fatty steaks or fast food products, but from vegetable oils used for dressing salads, nuts, fatty fish, avocados, and seeds.

If the diet does not produce results for several months, the doctor may prescribe medications. But due to the large list of side effects from taking medications, this is done in extreme cases.

Symptoms

Visceral obesity can hide inside the body for a long time; it can only be suspected by an increase in body weight, and often the stomach does not grow at the beginning of the development of pathology. It is important to monitor excess weight, not allowing body weight to exceed the norm.

For this purpose, BMI (body mass index) is calculated using the following formula: M (weight in kg) divided by H2 (height in m). If you exceed 30 units, urgently start taking measures to lose weight.

This is not the only sign of visceral obesity. The following symptoms indicate the presence of pathology:

• dyspnea;
• hypertension;
• the appearance of swelling;
• development of type 2 diabetes;
• lethargy, fatigue;
• uncontrolled appetite;
• heart problems (ischemia, tachycardia, bradycardia);
• depression, stress;
• sexual dysfunction (frigidity, decreased libido, impotence);
• liver problems (nausea, discomfort and pain in the right hypochondrium).

Abdominal obesity in men

The rate of development of obesity in representatives of the stronger sex is due to larger muscle structures. The soft tissue fibers are located at a certain distance from each other and these gaps are filled with fat molecules. Visceral obesity in men is characterized by the following localization:

• belly (can protrude in both thin and overweight representatives of the stronger sex);
• liver structures (due to disruption of corticosteroids);
• forearms, shoulders (due to a decrease in the amount of estrogen);
• pancreas (if there are disruptions at the hormonal level).

Diagnosis of pathology is aimed at studying the possible causes of visceral obesity in patients. Only after obtaining a complete picture of the disease can the most effective treatment be selected. Symptoms of visceral obesity in men are nonspecific, but include signs characteristic only of the stronger sex. Pathology manifests itself:

• shortness of breath;
• difficulty breathing during sleep;
• arterial hypertension;
• development of impotence, infertility;
• increased fatigue.

Among women

Treatment

It is extremely important to start therapy in a timely manner, before other dangerous pathologies develop against the background of visceral obesity. For this problem, you need to make an appointment with an endocrinologist. Complex treatment is divided into 2 stages:

• weight loss (usually takes 3 to 6 months)
• stabilization of body weight (from six months to 12 months).

When the doctor and the patient work together, the chances of recovery increase many times over. The main components of therapy are diet, behavioral therapy, and physical activity.

In particularly severe cases, the doctor may prescribe surgery or medication. Behavioral therapy involves changing lifestyle, which is the main factor in the development of the disease.

Experts advise the patient:

• sleep at least 8 hours;
• move more;
• be outdoors every day;
• to refuse from bad habits;
• avoid stress and worries;
• Constantly motivate yourself without stopping there.

Nutrition

Based on the degree of obesity and the patient’s eating habits, the doctor creates an optimal diet. General recommendations regarding nutrition for people with this problem are:

• reduction in carbohydrates and fats in the diet;
• reduction of daily caloric intake by 30%;
• eating only permitted food;
• gradual, careful introduction of dietary changes;
• introduction of fasting days (one per week);
• compliance with dietary table No. 8 according to Pevzner;
• small and frequent meals;
• reducing salt and sugar in the diet to a minimum;
• refusal of trans fats and fast food.

When following a diet, it is important to remember that the diet must be balanced. It is absolutely impossible to give up fats and carbohydrates, since this will disrupt the lipolysis process, as a result of which therapy will be useless. During the period of losing weight, it is important to be under the constant supervision of a doctor, who will adjust the menu at any time and give useful advice.

The diet for obesity, given the seriousness of the pathology and the danger of consequences, is strict, therefore the lists of permitted and prohibited foods are clearly regulated. So, with visceral obesity you are allowed to eat:

• low-fat dairy products;
• buckwheat, barley, pearl barley porridge;
• green vegetables rich in fiber (cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers);
• herbal, green, black tea, coffee (without sugar or slightly sweet);
• fish, dietary meat;
• vegetable oil (no more than 15 ml per day);
• one hard-boiled egg or as an omelette (per day);
• butter (5 g per day);
• low-fat, mild sauces;
• vegetable, fish soups;
• jellies, mousses, compotes from berries and fruits;
• rye, whole grain bread;
• fresh, not very sweet fruits and berries.

High-calorie, fatty foods are prohibited during the diet and in the future to stabilize weight. Patients are prohibited from consuming:

• canned food;
• alcoholic products;
• semolina, beans, white rice, pasta;
• raisins, grapes, figs, bananas;
• yeast, puff pastry, shortbread pastries;
• animal fats;
• fatty dairy, meat, fish products;
• sweets;
• fast food;
• hot, spicy sauces;
• packaged juices;
• cocoa;
• offal;
• marinades, pickles;
• wheat bread.

Drugs

If there is no improvement 2 months after the start of behavioral therapy and diet, the patient is offered drug therapy. It is not recommended to choose medications on your own, especially diuretics, herbal ingredients and biological supplements, so as not to aggravate your health condition. You should only take medications prescribed by the doctor.

If a woman is obese, she is prescribed diagnosis and treatment. To determine the degree of obesity, body mass index (BMI), body obesity index (BAI), and types of obesity are calculated.

Analyzes

Be sure to conduct laboratory research and get tested. The doctor will order blood tests for sugar and cholesterol levels.

Be sure to prescribe tests for thyroid hormones - thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrotropin. It is also important to test the blood for prolactin; perhaps a woman’s infertility lies in the deviation of this hormone from the norm.

Abdominal obesity can occur when the male hormone called testosterone is low, so testing for its presence and blood levels will be helpful. Depending on the test results and the degree of the disease, the doctor prescribes treatment.

Diet, exercise

For all types of obesity, special diets and sports exercises are prescribed, aimed at the entire body as a whole and at problem areas, for example, the abdomen. Drug treatment must be prescribed.

In case of hormonal obesity, if there are testosterone deviations from the norm, a diet is prescribed where the restriction includes protein foods. If these are the degrees of obesity at which endocrine system disorders occur, then a diet with sugar restriction will be prescribed.

A daily routine of active sports, a swimming pool and daily walks will become an obligatory part of the life of an obese patient.

In case of obesity due to a genetic factor, a diet is also selected; the Doctor will definitely tell you about the correct nutritional culture, prescribe exercise, and prescribe the woman medications that reduce the feeling of hunger. Although it is very difficult to fight genetic obesity, since the factor of abnormal life activity, instilled from childhood, is added.

In order not to bring the disease to a more severe degree, a woman can rebuild herself psychologically and her diet in a direction that is positive for health. Try to replace high-calorie foods with healthy vegetables and fruits. Replace large portions of food with small ones. You may not be able to lose weight to your desired weight, but stopping fat growth is quite possible. This way, many complications will be avoided.

Drug treatment: drugs are prescribed that either reduce the hormone or increase it. Depending on the level, its balance is restored.

To treat female obesity, which is caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise, therapy is used, as for genetic obesity. In addition to drug treatment, a nutritionist can refer a woman to a psychologist, as this is an integral part of therapy.

Consultation with a psychologist

Mostly, women begin to gain weight due to a poor psychological microclimate, which is facilitated by loneliness or separation from their spouse. In these cases, food for a woman serves as a substitute for joyful emotions. A diet prescribed by a doctor can cause even more stress for a woman, so the problem of obesity must also be solved on a psychological level.

In cases where neither medications, nor sports, nor diets help, for obesity of 3 and 4 degrees, surgical treatment is used.

Liposuction

Liposuction, where fat accumulated under the skin is removed. Gastric banding, when a band is inserted into the stomach, thereby changing its shape. After surgery, a woman will definitely need a period of rehabilitation, which will be aimed at maintaining the woman’s psychological and emotional background, as well as establishing the right nutritional culture and lifestyle.

To get rid of excess weight use:

• medications;
• biological food additives;
• diets;
• liposuction.

Therapy for subcutaneous obesity involves following a diet, increasing physical activity, and taking dietary supplements. In extreme cases, liposuction is resorted to.

With visceral obesity, things are different. This type of adipose tissue has not been sufficiently studied and an effective effect on it has not yet been found.

It is also not possible to remove it surgically. In rare cases, when the patient's life is at risk, gastric simulations are possible.

A diet for visceral obesity in men, contrary to erroneous belief, also cannot provide lasting results. According to the observations of British scientists, pathology is observed in 60% of men and 30% of women with a normal body mass index.

However, despite the fact that there is no direct correlation between the accumulation of visceral fat and dieting, there is a reason to adhere to a balanced diet. The same studies point to the fact that overweight people, by normalizing their diet, manage to get rid of internal fat. Its share of the total mass of adipose tissue is 30%.

One of the treatment methods is self-massage of the abdomen, which is carried out in the most relaxed state.

1. The skin is warmed up through active pinching.
2. Massage oil is applied to the skin.
3. Circular smoothing movements are made clockwise from the navel. This improves blood circulation.
4. Pressures are also performed, paying special attention to the internal organs; slight discomfort may be observed.
5. The procedure is completed with light stroking.

In both women and men, abdominal (synonym: android) obesity is considered the most “stubborn”, since the “beer belly”, the “lifebuoy” at the waist and fat deposits on the chest are difficult to correct and cannot be removed with ordinary diets and exercises.

Even modern cosmetology techniques do not always cope with belly fat. Although, diet, physical activity and physical procedures, applied comprehensively as part of an individual weight loss program, give a good result - a person, albeit slowly, but still gets rid of visceral and abdominal obesity.

Those who want to get rid of belly fat should adhere to the following dietary rules:

• exclude appetite-stimulating alcohol, including beer, from the diet;
• switch to fractional meals - eat 5-6 times a day, consuming no more than 250 grams of food at a time;
• have dinner three to four hours before bedtime;
• exclude from the diet confectionery products, sweet drinks, sauces, fried and smoked foods, trans fats (margarines and spreads);
• limit fats and carbohydrates, but be sure to include vegetable oil, cereals and grain bread in the diet - this is necessary for the normal functioning of the pancreas and gall bladder;
• count calories – food calorie tables are available on the Internet;
• drink more than two liters of water a day, as water fills the stomach and slightly dulls the feeling of hunger.

As for sports exercises, for abdominal obesity, aerobic rather than strength exercises are preferable, for example, walking, jogging, cycling. Among salon cosmetology procedures, experts recommend seaweed wraps, myostimulation, vacuum massage, contrast baths and Charcot showers.

Attention! If obesity of the third or fourth degree is diagnosed, and even burdened with a “bouquet” of chronic diseases (morbid obesity), then the most effective methods of treatment are surgical methods of treatment, such as gastric banding, installation of an intragastric balloon, gastric bypass and gastroplasty.

Visceral obesity characterized by excess body weight with fat deposition in internal organs without external signs of excess weight. The disease is characterized by obesity of many internal organs, including the heart and liver. This leads to the development of various complications from the cardiovascular system and in many cases becomes the cause of diabetes mellitus.

Causes and mechanism of development of visceral obesity

Visceral obesity is a key element of the metabolic syndrome, which is widespread among the population of the entire planet. We speak of metabolic obesity when there is excess body weight, the sensitivity of internal organ cells to insulin is impaired, which leads to an increase in blood glucose, high blood pressure, and “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which is produced due to improper fat metabolism.

Many scientists believe that a violation of the sensitivity of body cells to insulin, with its normal content in the blood, is the starting point from which problems with metabolic disorders and excess weight begin. This condition develops under the influence of a group of factors:

• age;
• genetic predisposition;
• imbalance of hormones;
• conditions of fetal development in the prenatal period;
• exposure to adverse environmental factors.

In visceral obesity, the leading role in the development of carbohydrate metabolism disorders belongs to adipose tissue, which produces special hormones.

Visceral adipose tissue has a number of features that determine the rate of development of impaired insulin sensitivity and the development of obesity:

• a greater number of cells that make up adipose tissue per unit of its mass;
• abundant blood supply and the presence of many nerve endings;
• high density of receptors for adrenal hormones and male sex hormones;
• abundance of receptors that respond to stress;
• low density of receptors that improve fat breakdown.

Due to the intensive breakdown of lipids, fatty acids are released from the cells and enter the liver through the veins. This leads to the fact that liver cells bind insulin less well and begin to respond to it more slowly. The concentration of unclaimed insulin in the blood increases all the time, which leads to the fact that muscle cells begin to react to it worse.

Products formed due to underoxidation of fats accumulate in the blood. They contribute to disrupting the processes of glucose consumption by heart tissue and skeletal muscles. These substances also have a toxic effect on the pancreas, which produces insulin. Sooner or later, insulin synthesis decreases.

Under these conditions, fat metabolism is disrupted and increased formation of muscle cells and collagen in internal organs begins. This leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and vascular damage.

Hormonal effects and visceral obesity

The balance within fat cells is regulated by the hormone leptin. Its concentration in the blood depends on the number of fat cells in the internal organs. It protects cells from the toxic effects of fat breakdown products and affects their sensitivity to insulin. Visceral obesity leads to calcium deposits in blood vessels, cholesterol accumulation, and an increase in the tone of the sympathetic nervous system and blood pressure. These processes accelerate the development of vascular atherosclerosis.

The cells of white adipose tissue, located in the internal organs, also produce another hormone - adiponectin. It helps reduce glucose synthesis in the liver, improves the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin, and inhibits the process of adhesion of blood clots (thrombi) to the inner lining of blood vessels. It slows down the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the aorta.
With visceral obesity, all these protective mechanisms are lost. Adipose tissue, located in excess in the internal organs, produces a number of substances that suppress the action of protective hormones. Thus, with visceral obesity, atherosclerotic plaques quickly form in the vessels.

In visceral obesity, adipose tissue located in the abdominal cavity begins to produce special substances in increased quantities that affect the formation of fibrin. Their high level leads to the development of myocardial infarction, which is a complication of obesity. A direct relationship has been established between these substances, metabolic syndrome, internal adipose tissue mass, glucose levels and body mass index.

Visceral adipose tissue also produces a hormone that causes vasoconstriction. It leads to increased blood pressure, increased development of atherosclerosis and disruption of the integrity of the vascular wall. Thus, the adipose tissue of the internal organs itself ensures that a huge amount of substances harmful to the body enters the blood. It contributes to the development of manifestations of metabolic syndrome.

Treatment of visceral obesity

All measures for the treatment of metabolic syndrome should be aimed at correcting visceral obesity - reducing the amount of fat in the body. You need to start with changing your lifestyle. The patient should stop smoking, drinking alcohol, move more, and play sports.

Special diets have been created for weight loss. Their main principle should be a balanced diet: in no case should you lose weight if you are deficient in protein products. This will lead to a decrease in body weight due to protein, and the amount of visceral fat will remain at the same level.

It is not always possible to overcome visceral obesity without medication. Doctors prescribe the drug orlistat for visceral obesity. It reduces the body's need for food, but does not affect the human psyche. In many cases, to treat visceral obesity, surgical interventions are performed to reduce the volume of the stomach () or create conditions under which the absorption of fats from the digestive tract is reduced ().
Without a doubt, visceral obesity is a key element of metabolic syndrome. Its treatment requires normalization of metabolic processes in the patient’s body.

The problem of obesity is very relevant these days. This disease affects both older people and very young people. In order to properly combat this pathology, it is necessary to find out what processes provoked it and how advanced the disease is. Particular attention should be paid to visceral obesity.

Causes and consequences of visceral obesity

With visceral obesity, excess fat deposits form on internal organs. Moreover, the more excess weight, the more serious the consequences for the body will be, since metabolic processes and blood circulation are disrupted. Visceral obesity is an advanced form, so its treatment takes place only under the supervision of a doctor.

What is visceral obesity

First of all, excess fat formation is associated with various metabolic processes that continuously occur in our body. Often the reason for this is the incorrect sensitivity of the cellular structures of internal organs to the well-known hormone insulin. This is why people with visceral obesity are most often diagnosed with diabetes.

When the problem of excess weight begins to grow, the improper functioning of many organs and systems is noted. Thus, patients experience a sharp deterioration in their general well-being and shortness of breath. Over time, hypertension may develop, and in young people, reproductive function may be impaired.

The greater the ratio in the body towards visceral fat, the more hormonal imbalance increases. In this state, carbohydrate metabolism usually completely collapses, as does the digestion process as a whole.

Cardiovascular diseases become a companion of such a person, which is usually accompanied by severe swelling of the limbs. Due to the fact that increased pressure is constantly placed on the spine and legs, deformation of the joints and their gradual wear can occur.

Also, physical activity almost always decreases against the background of obesity. A person simply cannot move long distances and sometimes even just work. The quality of life suffers greatly from this, despite the fact that people may turn a blind eye to the problem for a long time and not fight the growing excess weight.

Common causes of visceral obesity:

• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Heredity;
• An abundance of fatty and sweet foods in the diet;
• Increased caloric content of foods and overeating;
• Metabolic diseases.

All these factors can contribute to the development of the disease, but the main cause is overeating. After all, when the body receives excess energy and is not able to expend it, then all this is transformed into such unnecessary fat.

Why does organ obesity occur?

Organs susceptible to obesity

Fat cells accumulate a large supply of energy, as well as fat-soluble vitamins. In addition, without fat it is impossible to protect internal organs, since it is like an intermediate layer when exposed to injuries and wounds. Visceral fat is also important in case of unforeseen situations when the body may begin to starve. In this case, it will become the source of energy.

But still, even the protective function must be ensured within reason. If the thickness of the fat layer greatly exceeds the norm, then you can get the opposite effect. At the same time, visceral fat is distributed unevenly throughout the body; there are areas where it is found in the greatest amount - on the stomach, hips and legs.

The entire internal space of our body is lined with thin membranes, which are connective tissue membranes. Thus, the fat that spoils our figure and is called visceral is obtained, located inside these cavities.

With excessive formation of such fat, the function of neighboring organs may be disrupted, and the shock-absorbing and protective properties become secondary. Here you will have to treat various concomitant pathologies.

But it should still be borne in mind that the internal type of obesity can be found not only in people who are overweight. Sometimes this problem can occur in people who cannot be called fat. Here, much will depend on the genetic predisposition to excessive formation of fatty tissue on internal organs.

This pathology is diagnosed and monitored for severe manifestations of the disease. An instrumental way to determine excess volume is to measure your waist circumference. Indicators within the normal range are 90 cm for women, 100 cm for men. But still, it is worth taking into account the person’s original constitution and height.

Consequences of obesity

With visceral obesity, the heart cannot fully perform its function. Many chemical processes are disrupted, including the flow of oxygen. This is where weakness and shortness of breath appear. In addition, fat can be deposited in the cavity of the heart, especially in the right ventricle.

Such processes can lead to circulatory disorders, the development of myocardial infarction, and blockage of coronary vessels. Gradually, muscle tissue is replaced by fatty tissue, which leads to irreversible consequences.

The lungs are also susceptible to negative influence. In overweight people, breathing is always shallow and frequent, since the lungs cannot expand to their full potential. Due to this, all tissues and organs do not receive enough oxygen. Against this background, the immune system often malfunctions, and physical weakness continues to increase.

Such people often suffer from forgetfulness because the brain is in a constant state of hypoxia. A common occurrence in obesity is pneumonia and bronchitis, due to the fact that gas exchange and ventilation are impaired. Stagnation of lymph and gases is a beneficial environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.

Yet the abdominal area suffers most from fat deposits. The accumulation of fat along the front wall of the abdomen causes improper metabolism, which then completely disrupts the normal functioning of the hormonal system.

Due to constant compression of internal organs, stomach and liver diseases develop. Almost all such patients have a history of gallstone disease. Such people often have to take various enzymes in order to at least slightly improve the digestion process.

Features of visceral obesity in women and men

Differences between male and female obesity

If we take it by percentage, then the fat mass of the fair half of humanity is higher, but if we evaluate predisposition, then both sexes are equally prone to this disease. In this situation, the location of the fat will differ, for example, in women it is the thighs, in men it is the stomach, although there are individual characteristics.

In women, the deposition of visceral fat directly depends on overall body weight gain, while estrogen protects against excessive accumulation in the abdominal area. In men, such fat begins to be deposited earlier than subcutaneous fat. If weight loss occurs, then it goes away faster.

Such weight loss processes are primarily associated with the fact that the body experiences stress (starvation), so the internal fat is the first to be lost, and then the subcutaneous fat. During this period, there is a severe lack of energy in the body and you have to take it only from there.

Some people have an apple-shaped figure and a large belly immediately catches the eye. This is due to physiology, since the largest amount of visceral fat is deposited in the abdominal region - the omentum. In this case, the stomach may be large, but the limbs are thin.

In such people, an exacerbation of the disease is most often observed after an increase in the level of cortisol in the blood. From a physiological point of view, this is explained primarily by the fact that under the influence of adrenal hormones there is an increased accumulation of fat in the omental cavity.

In some cases, this type of obesity is formed against the background of hormonal imbalance or congenital pathology of the adrenal glands. The so-called beer belly also belongs to this disease and it looks rather unaesthetic. But still, mixed types of obesity are the most common.

As obesity increases, it is important to monitor your body mass index (BMI). To get this value, take your weight in kilograms and divide by your height in meters. If the result obtained is more than 30, then measures should be taken to combat excess weight. A BMI value below 25 is considered normal weight, and this is the indicator you need to strive for.

Moreover, due to the nature of the disease with this type of obesity, weight may not change for a long time. There is also a progressive stage of the disease, when excess weight only grows and is difficult to treat. In the residual form of the disease, even after complete weight loss, residual effects may persist.

Hormone production disorders

In the internal organs there are fat cells in which a hormone-like substance is synthesized - adiponectin. Thanks to it, glucose production in the liver is reduced and muscle fibers become more sensitive to insulin. Also, with sufficient concentration, the blood thins and the processes of blood clot formation are inhibited.

When visceral fat begins to form in large quantities, these protective mechanisms can no longer work as before. This is due to the fact that special substances are released in adipose tissue that disrupt the functioning of these hormones.

Metabolism in fat cells is regulated by the hormone leptin. Initially, its amount in the blood depends on the amount of fat deposits in the internal cavity and it is undesirable to allow its strong fluctuations. Thanks to it, cells are protected from the toxic effects of triglyceride breakdown products. With obesity, the content of this hormone in the blood drops sharply.

In the vessels with this disease there is almost always calcium in large quantities, to which cholesterol is added. In such patients, atherosclerotic plaques are diagnosed.

Visceral adipose tissue also produces a hormone that disrupts the functioning of blood vessels and promotes their narrowing. All this leads to the fact that the detoxification system in the body can no longer function fully. For this reason, a large amount of harmful substances builds up in the blood. This condition leads to an imbalance in the alkaline balance and the development of acidosis.

Non-drug treatment

There can be many reasons for the formation of visceral fat, but, nevertheless, this does not eliminate the problem itself. The higher the patient’s BMI, the more difficult the disease will be to treat. With the right therapy, it will be possible to induce long-term remission of many chronic diseases.

Usually, visceral fat goes away at the same time as the subcutaneous layer, but this applies to the standard situation. If there is a serious hormonal imbalance in the body, then both the treatment and the result may be different.

First of all, in order to help your body at least a little, you need to pay attention to your diet. Indeed, in 90% of cases, the main cause of obesity is it. At this stage, serious difficulties arise, since over so many years a person has formed his own food culture and taste preferences.

Patients usually manage to cope with the diet problem on their own. In the first case, the diet breaks down very quickly, in the second, the foods are low-calorie, but in large quantities. The selection of a diet and the calculation of caloric content of foods should be carried out by a specialist, as well as subsequent control over nutrition.

An important condition in choosing a diet is to reduce the amount of energy in foods. If the body does not receive enough calories, it will begin to use up its accumulated fat. At the same time, there is no specific list of products as such; you just need to focus on excluding sweets and fatty foods from your diet.

When losing weight, you should not allow attacks of hunger, since fat and carbohydrate metabolism are disrupted, this can cause surges in blood glucose levels. This condition in people who have been dependent on food for a long time can lead to a breakdown in nutrition. It is also important to maintain proper drinking regimen during the diet.

Protein diets have a good effect. When following them, fats and carbohydrates are limited in the diet, and the main emphasis is on protein. This starts the process of consuming missing substances from reserves. But you can’t stay on such a diet for a long time, because the amount of purine bases in the body can sharply increase and cause complications for the kidneys.

The second important point is physical activity and increasing physical activity. Most sports are not suitable for visceral obesity, but long walks and cycling will help tone the body faster.

During the diet, the supply of nutrients may be limited due to a reduced range of foods. It is important to compensate for this deficiency with special multivitamin preparations. This is necessary in order to improve metabolic processes and overall well-being.

The recovery course program includes 2 stages - in the first, the main emphasis is on weight loss. This period, depending on the severity of the condition, can last up to 6 months. At the second stage, an important point is weight stabilization, since the main thing is to consolidate the result and improve the general condition of the patient.

In severe cases, surgery may be required. Its main goal is to reduce the volume of the stomach.

Such surgical procedures may include:

• Sleeve gastrectomy;
• Special bypass.

Such manipulations are required when the patient cannot deny himself the consumption of food in large quantities. These methods are used in very rare and severe cases.

Sometimes they may resort to liposuction. During this procedure, fat is pumped out using special cannulas. But still, this procedure is completely unsafe, due to the risk of damage to blood vessels. After liposuction, the patient will have to wear compression garments for a long time so that the skin in the areas where fat is removed does not sag.

During weight loss and stabilization, the main emphasis is on fasting days and adherence to the principle of a new nutrition culture. It is very important to understand that limiting junk food and proper diet should become the main rule in life. Moreover, this applies not only to those who suffer from visceral obesity, but also to everyone else. Proper nutrition is the key to a healthy life.