New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) A recent study suggests that quitting smoking may help reduce visceral fat, the harmful fat found deep inside the abdomen and around organs. Although smokers may have lower body weights, they are at risk of serious illnesses due to excess visceral fat.
Published in the journal Addiction, the study indicates that smoking can lead to an increase in visceral fat, increasing the likelihood of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia. Dr. German D. Carrasquilla from the University of Copenhagen explains that even thin individuals with flat stomachs can have unhealthy amounts of this type of fat.
Research on 1.2 million people who started smoking and 450,000 lifetime smokers revealed that smoking can contribute to an increase in belly fat, specifically visceral fat. By examining DNA variants linked to smoking habits and fat distribution, the study found that smokers tend to have excess abdominal fat mainly comprising of visceral fat.
Dr. German emphasized the importance of large-scale efforts to reduce smoking in the population to not only decrease the risk of chronic diseases associated with visceral fat but also indirectly reduce other major health risks. This study highlights the significance of addressing smoking as a public health concern to combat abdominal visceral fat and its related health issues.
