Age Related Shift in Visceral Fat

Area of Science:

• Metabolic Health
• Aging Research
• Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Background:

• Increased visceral fat, a component of obesity, is linked to higher risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
• Both disease risk and visceral fat levels significantly increase with advancing age.
• Preventing age-related visceral fat gain may largely mitigate associated disease risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review data on age-related visceral fat increases in men and women.
• To identify factors contributing to visceral fat accumulation, including hormonal influences.
• To explore the role of exercise in managing age-related visceral fat shifts.

Main Methods:

• Review of cross-sectional data on body composition and aging.
• Analysis of contributing factors to central fat patterning.
• Identification of potential hormonal mediators of fat redistribution.
• Examination of exercise intervention effects on visceral fat.

Main Results:

• Visceral fat increased by over 200% in men and 400% in women between their 30s and 70s.
• Age-related visceral fat gain is driven by weight increase, muscle loss, and a shift to central fat distribution.
• Hormonal factors are implicated in the redistribution of fat towards the abdomen.
• Exercise participation demonstrates a capacity to slow this age-related shift.

Conclusions:

• Age-related increases in visceral fat significantly elevate disease risk.
• Weight gain, muscle loss, and hormonal changes contribute to central adiposity with age.
• Regular exercise is a viable strategy to counteract age-related visceral fat accumulation and reduce health risks.