Visceral fat, also known as abdominal fat or belly fat, can be found near the liver and intestines in the body. It is associated with a range of metabolic disturbances, such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The belly fat can be hard to reach but diet has been shown to attack it.
Triglycerides are a combination of three fatty acids or fats that can contribute to the risk of developing heart and circulatory disease.
“The results suggest that mild weight loss improves abdominal obesity”, the researchers concluded.
Calorie-restriction – important things to consider
According to the NHS, very low calorie diets are for adults who are obese and severely obese, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) over 30 and 40, and need to quickly lose weight.
BMI is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height.
“So if you include a lean source of protein, such as skinless white chicken, in your meals you may find that you’re not as hungry, and so eat less,” advises the health body.
It advises including protein with each meal.
Good sources include chicken breast, tuna, mackerel, salmon, eggs, milk, red lentils, chickpeas, brown bread, nuts and soya.
Alternatively, there are lots of protein products on the market, such as supplements and powders.
“But if you decide to use these make sure you have a trained sports dietitian or nutritionist supervising your diet,” adds Bupa.