Hidden Visceral Fat Speeds Heart Aging Despite Exercise.

In 2025, Vladimir Losev and a team from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London analyzed 21,241 UK Biobank adults, using AI to study body fat via whole-body imaging and heart health through scans. They focused on visceral fat (hidden around organs like the stomach) and its link to heart aging, measured by tissue stiffness and inflammation.

More visceral fat was tied to faster heart aging (equivalent to 1-2 extra years of heart wear), raising risks of blood pressure and cholesterol issues by 15-25%, even in active people. Women with more hip/thigh fat had slower heart aging (up to 20% less stiffness), likely due to estrogen’s protective role.

Focus on a healthy diet with fatty ruminant meats, fruits, and even organs to reduce visceral fat and protect your heart.