Fat stored deep in the abdomen around the internal organs, which is more strongly tied to metabolic and cardiovascular risk than fat under the skin.
Updated Jul 18, 2026
Visceral fat is fat stored deep inside the abdomen, surrounding organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines. This is different from subcutaneous fat, which sits just under the skin and can be pinched.
Compared with subcutaneous fat, visceral fat is more strongly associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. That is part of why waist measurement, not just overall weight, is often used to gauge metabolic health.
metabolic healthbody compositioncardiovascular
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Related terms
Obstructive sleep apnea — A sleep disorder in which the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing brief pauses in breathing; it is closely linked to obesity.
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