Facts about belly fat Visceral fat is the name given to the fat that lies deep in your torso. It is found around your intestines, liver and stomach, and can also line your arteries, which can be hazardous to your health. But you don’t need a special diet or exercise, just a few healthy habits to reduce it. What are the health risks? Researchers believe that the amount of deep fat around your organs is a better measure of whether you face serious health problems than your weight or BMI (body mass index). Not only can abdominal fat make your jeans too tight, but too much can mean you are more likely to have the following diseases: diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, high cholesterol, breast cancer, pancreatitis. You can’t know how much visceral fat you have just by measuring your waist, because the fat near the surface of your skin (called subcutaneous fat) is also part of your girth. Visceral fat is the first type of fat you lose, and your workouts don’t have to be complicated; you can walk briskly for an hour a day. On a treadmill, you can set the incline higher to boost your metabolism. If you sit a lot, look for ways to move. Set a timer on your phone to remind you to get up every half hour or so. Soda and other sweetened beverages are the culprits of visceral fat, and some studies show that sugar can increase belly fat. To reduce belly fat, be smart about your diet and eat plenty of vegetables and small amounts of junk food. Instead of soda, consider green tea. Some studies have shown that catechins, the antioxidants in green tea, may help burn visceral fat. Fish oil has long been considered a heart-healthy supplement, but is not as effective for eliminating belly fat.