High Visceral Fat Is A Significant Risk Factor For Premature Cardiovascular Death

Mayo Clinic research has found that high visceral fat puts people at great risk of premature cardiovascular death, even among people with normal weight.  Researchers said the study highlights an important new fact: distribution of fat – not just obesity itself – is a more important predictor of cardiovascular mortality. The study followed 12,785 people aged 18 and older, measuring height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference over a number of years. The risk of cardiovascular death was 2.75 times higher and the risk of death from all causes was 2.08 times higher in normal weight people with high visceral fat levels compared with subjects with normal body mass index and normal waist-to-hip ratio.