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Background
is white adipose tissue (WAT). In healthy amounts, VAT
In the past four decades, the obesity epidemic has become acts to maintain a healthy homeostasis and is responsi
one of the top health concerns of the United States (U.S.) ble for the release and storage of energy in the body.
and the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) However, when an excess amount of lipids are stored
reported that obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975 and the removal of lipids is decreased, the process
and in 2016 roughly 13% of the globe’s adult population becomes unbalanced and results in excess WAT.8
were obese.1 The U.S. population has roughly three times Excess VAT influences metabolism and increases fat
the rate of obesity relative to other parts of the world, deposition on the liver. These changes result in altered
which has an estimated economic burden of 147 lipid profiles, changes in blood pressure, and increases in
USD billion in medical costs.2 While the public health systemic inflammation, which ultimately increases the
concerns and economic impact of general obesity are well risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease,
established,3 the effects of abdominal obesity are often insulin resistance, and even types of cancers.7 In addi
overlooked. Abdominal obesity is defined as an overa tion to these health dangers, abdominal obesity in
bundance of intra-abdominal fat and is often termed women also increases their risk of metabolic distur
visceral obesity or central adiposity.4 Over the last several bances, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, depres
decades, the prevalence of abdominal obesity found in sion, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.4 Visceral fat
U.S. adults has steadily increased, with reports of 59% of tissue has also been linked to dyslipidemia, hyperten
U.S. adults having excessive abdominal fat in 2016 as sion, and glucose intolerance.9 Alternatively, reduction
measured by waist circumference.5 Interestingly, during in waist circumference has shown lower levels of cho
the same time period, obesity has stayed at relatively the lesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides.10
same prevalence rate.6 A key contributor to obesity management is physical
Visceral fat tissue (VAT) is found surrounding inter activity. Past studies have shown that an inverse rela
nal organs, the mesentery, and is stored in the omentum, tionship exists between physical activity and obesity
blanketing the intestines and lying under the stomach and that abdominal obesity is reduced with higher
muscles.4,7 The predominant form of fat found in VAT levels of physical activity. Similarly, weight loss
CONTACT Julie Williams Merten JMerten@unf.edu Department of Public Health, Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
32224
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