JERUSALEM, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have found that reducing deep belly fat through lifestyle changes may have long-lasting health benefits, even years after the intervention ends and even if body weight is later regained, Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Wednesday.
The study, published in the cardiology journal Circulation, followed hundreds of participants for a decade to understand how different types of body fat change over time in response to diet and exercise programs.
The researchers found that losing visceral fat, the deep fat stored around internal organs in the abdomen, was linked to better long-term health and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This benefit remained even when overall weight returned to previous levels, they said.
Other types of fat, such as fat in the liver, pancreas, and under the skin, did not show the same long-term protective effect.
The study showed that every 10 percent reduction in visceral fat was associated with about a 30 percent lower risk of future type 2 diabetes. Improvements were also seen in blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and overall metabolic health, researchers said. ■
