Visceral Fat Analysis

Understanding the difference

Two Types of Body Fat

Subcutaneous Fat

The fat beneath your skin that you can pinch. Generally less harmful to your metabolic health.

Visceral Fat

Deep abdominal fat wrapping your organs. Metabolically active and linked to serious disease.

What is visceral fat?

The Hidden Fat You Can’t See

Visceral fat is stored deep inside your abdominal cavity, surrounding vital organs like your liver, pancreas, and intestines. Unlike the fat you can pinch, visceral fat is invisible from the outside — but it’s far more dangerous.

  • Produces inflammatory compounds (cytokines) that disrupt normal metabolic function
  • Increases insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes
  • Cannot be measured by BMI, scales, or tape measures alone
  • Even lean individuals can carry dangerous visceral fat levels (“skinny fat”)

Why it matters

Health Risks of Excess Visceral Fat

Research consistently links high visceral fat to a range of serious health conditions. Understanding these risks is the first step to taking control.

❤️‍🩹

Cardiovascular Disease

Visceral fat releases free fatty acids directly into the portal vein, contributing to arterial plaque buildup, high blood pressure, and elevated LDL cholesterol.

High Risk
🩸

Type 2 Diabetes

Excess visceral fat is one of the strongest predictors of insulin resistance. It impairs glucose metabolism and can push blood sugar levels into the pre-diabetic range.

High Risk
🧠

Cognitive Decline

Studies show that higher visceral fat is associated with reduced brain volume and increased risk of dementia, even after adjusting for overall body weight.

Emerging Research
🫁

Metabolic Syndrome

A cluster of conditions — high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol — that dramatically increase disease risk.

High Risk
🔬

Certain Cancers

Chronic inflammation from visceral fat has been linked to increased risk of colorectal, breast, and pancreatic cancers through hormonal and metabolic pathways.

Moderate Risk
🫀

Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Visceral fat is a primary driver of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can progress to liver inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure if left unchecked.

High Risk

Precision measurement

How DEXA Measures Visceral Fat

DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is the clinical gold standard for body composition analysis. It uses two low-dose X-ray beams to map your body’s fat, lean mass, and bone with extraordinary precision.

Regional Fat Mapping

See exactly where fat is stored — arms, legs, trunk, and the critical android (abdominal) region.

Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT)

Directly quantifies the volume of fat surrounding your internal organs — measured in grams and cm².

Track Changes Over Time

Monitor your visceral fat progression scan-to-scan with clinically accurate baselines. See if your protocol is working.

BodyStats DEXA scan facility showing advanced body composition analysis equipment
✦ 1–2% Accuracy Margin

Know your numbers

Visceral Fat Rating Scale

DEXA scanners rate visceral fat on a standardized scale. Here’s how to interpret your results.

1 – 4
Healthy
Low visceral fat. Keep it up with consistent exercise and balanced nutrition.
5 – 9
Normal
Acceptable range, but aim to stay at the lower end for optimal metabolic health.
10 – 14
Elevated
Above optimal. Lifestyle changes are recommended to reduce risk factors.
15 – 30
High
Significantly elevated risk. Consult a health professional and consider medical intervention.

Ratings are based on the visceral fat area measured by DEXA. Your detailed report at BodyStats will include your exact VAT area in cm² alongside this rating for clinical context.

Take action

How to Reduce Visceral Fat

The good news: visceral fat responds well to targeted lifestyle changes. Here are the evidence-backed strategies that make the biggest impact.

01

Prioritize Aerobic Exercise

Moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity (brisk walking, cycling, swimming) for 150+ minutes per week has been shown to significantly reduce visceral fat — even without major weight loss on the scale.

02

Build Lean Muscle Mass

Resistance training increases resting metabolic rate and helps shift body composition. Combining strength work with cardio is the most effective protocol for long-term visceral fat reduction.

03

Optimize Your Nutrition

Focus on whole foods, adequate protein, and fiber. Reduce refined carbohydrates and added sugars — visceral fat is especially sensitive to excess sugar and processed food intake.

04

Manage Stress & Sleep

Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which directly promotes visceral fat storage. Prioritize 7–9 hours of quality sleep and incorporate stress-reduction practices into your routine.

Ready to take control?

Get Your Visceral Fat Analyzed Today

Get clinically accurate data about the fat you can’t see. No referral needed. Walk in or book online.

3–6 minute scan Vancouver & Toronto No referral needed
Book Your DEXA Scan Now

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about visceral fat and DEXA body composition analysis.

Visceral fat is the fat stored deep in the abdominal cavity, surrounding vital organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines. Unlike subcutaneous fat (the fat you can pinch), visceral fat is metabolically active — it produces inflammatory hormones and compounds that increase your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious conditions.
DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) uses two low-dose X-ray beams at different energy levels to differentiate between bone, lean tissue, and fat tissue. It provides a precise regional breakdown of your fat distribution, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in the trunk area, measured in grams and cross-sectional area (cm²).
DEXA scanning has an error margin of just 1–2%, making it one of the most accurate methods available for measuring visceral fat outside of a clinical MRI. It’s significantly more reliable than bioelectrical impedance scales, waist circumference, or BMI calculations.
Yes — this is commonly called “skinny fat” or TOFI (thin outside, fat inside). A person can appear lean but carry significant visceral fat around their organs. This is why a DEXA scan is so valuable: it reveals what scales and mirrors cannot, giving you an accurate picture of your internal body composition.
For most people, a scan every 3–6 months provides meaningful data to track changes and evaluate the effectiveness of your nutrition and exercise program. If you’re making major lifestyle changes, quarterly scans are ideal to keep you motivated and on track.
No referral or physician order is needed. You can book your DEXA scan directly on our website or walk in during business hours. We’re open 7 days a week, 9 AM – 5 PM, at our Vancouver and Toronto locations.
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