society and community | February 09, 2026

How does visceral fat differ from subcutaneous fat?

How does visceral fat differ from subcutaneous fat?

Subcutaneous fat is stored just beneath the skin and can be pinched with your fingers. Visceral fat lies deep within the abdominal walls and surrounds the organs. Visceral fat tends to cause bad health, and subcutaneous fat, especially in legs, butt, and thighs tends to be protective.

How do you measure subcutaneous adipose tissue?

Ultrasound has been established as an accurate and reliable method for measuring subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thicknesses when used in standardised way.

What is the difference between adipose and subcutaneous tissue?

Adipose tissue is a loose connective tissue mostly composed of adipocytes and plays a major role in storage of energy in the form of lipids. The adipose tissue beneath the skin is called subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), whereas the one lining internal organs is termed visceral adipose tissue (VAT).

How is adipose tissue calculated?

The estimate of the number of fat cells in a fragment of adipose tissue can be obtained by dividing the total lipid content of the tissue by the average lipid content of the fat cells. The lipid content of the average fat cell is derived by the mean cell volume X density of lipid.

What is visceral adipose tissue?

Visceral adipose tissue is a hormonally active component of total body fat, which possesses unique biochemical characteristics that influence several normal and pathological processes in the human body. Abnormally high deposition of visceral adipose tissue is known as visceral obesity.

Is adipose tissue visceral fat?

Adipose tissue is commonly known as body fat. It is found all over the body. It can be found under the skin (subcutaneous fat), packed around internal organs (visceral fat), between muscles, within bone marrow and in breast tissue.

Why is visceral fat worse than subcutaneous fat?

Visceral fat is strongly linked to metabolic disease and insulin resistance, and an increased risk of death, even for people who have a normal body mass index. Subcutaneous fat doesn’t carry the same risks — some subcutaneous fat may even be protective.

Where is subcutaneous adipose tissue?

skin
In humans, adipose tissue is located: beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat), around internal organs (visceral fat), in bone marrow (yellow bone marrow), intermuscular (Muscular system) and in the breast (breast tissue). Adipose tissue is found in specific locations, which are referred to as adipose depots.

What is visceral adipose?

How is visceral fat calculated?

You divide your waist size by your hip size. Some doctors think the number gives a good idea of your risk for visceral fat.