Most fat in the human body is stored underneath the skin, a location known as subcutaneous fat. This is the fat you can see and feel. However, the body also stores fat around internal organs, such as the heart, liver, and intestines. This type of fat is called visceral fat.
Subcutaneous Fat vs. Visceral Fat
- Subcutaneous fat: Located directly beneath the skin, this fat acts as insulation and provides cushioning. It's the fat you can pinch.
- Visceral fat: Found deep within the abdominal cavity, surrounding organs. While less visible, visceral fat is strongly linked to health risks.
While the exact percentage varies between individuals, research shows that a significant majority of stored fat is subcutaneous. The amount of visceral fat relative to subcutaneous fat can significantly influence an individual's health.
Multiple sources confirm this distribution of body fat. For example, healthdirect.gov.au states that "The rest of the fat in the body is stored around your internal organs, including your heart, liver and intestines. This is visceral fat." Other sources, like Dr. Bazire's blog, emphasize the two main compartments of fat storage: subcutaneous (under the skin) and visceral (around internal organs).
