Visceral fat is the fat located within the abdomen walls and is known to wrap around the organs. It can affect the hormones in the body, causing dangerous health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes if left untreated.
How DEXA Scans Determine Visceral Fat
It is difficult for a clinician to diagnose the presence of visceral fat because it can only be seen by diagnostic imaging. Tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) are both very costly, time consuming, and require a patient to visit an imaging center or hospital to have the test performed. However, in the last few years DEXA Technology has advanced and become widely accepted as the gold standard in diagnostic imaging to determine overall body composition, including intra-abdominal fat measurement and bone density.
A DEXA Scan report breaks down the overall percentage of lean muscle mass, fat, and bone in a person’s body. In addition, the report provides the percentage of visceral fat and the conversion of visceral fat into pounds. As a general rule of thumb, the normal range for visceral fat is 2-3 lbs and anything over 5lbs is considered dangerous.
Is It Possible To Reduce High Levels of Hidden Fat?
It is possible to reduce high levels of visceral fat by leading a healthy and active lifestyle. If you have a DEXA Scan that identifies intra-abdominal fat in your body, your health provider will provide professional advice on ways to improve your diet, and how to implement an exercise program that will help reduce it. Check out this video from WXYZ Channel 7, Reporter Jennifer Ann Wilson as she reports on a client who was diagnosed and the improvement they made in their life to reduce it.
If you’re not sure if you have intra-abdominal fat or want to know for sure that you are in a safe zone, book a DEXA Scan to find out. DEXA providers range from medical wellness spas and fitness facilities to physician clinics and hospitals, making the test accessible anywhere. Schedule a test online at DEXASCAN.COM