---
title: "Why is visceral fat more dangerous than subcutaneous fat?"
url: "https://worldwiki.io/q/why-is-visceral-fat-more-dangerous-than-subcutaneous-fat"
type: "question"
language: "en"
intent: "informational"
entity: "Adipose Tissue"
topic: "SVF & Adipose-derived Cells"
published: "2026-09-18 06:21:20"
updated: "2026-10-08 09:18:06"
---

# Why is visceral fat more dangerous than subcutaneous fat?

## Short answer

Visceral fat lies deep in the abdomen and wraps around internal organs. Excess visceral fat is linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis more closely than fat under the skin. One clinical source estimates it normally makes up about 10% of total body fat. A waist of 35 inches or more in women, or 40 inches or more in men, is commonly used as a sign of higher risk.

## Answer

Other simple guides include a waist-to-hip ratio above 0.85 in women or 0.90 in men, and a waist larger than half of a person's height [4].

### Stem cells in cosmetic surgery

In cosmetic surgery, "stem cell" procedures almost always use [adipose-derived stem cells](/entity/adipose-derived-stem-cell). The stromal vascular fraction (SVF), which contains them, is separated from liposuctioned fat and mixed into the fat being grafted, as in [stem cell breast augmentation](/entity/stem-cell-breast-augmentation) and [stem cell fat grafting](/entity/stem-cell-fat-grafting).

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## Sources

1. [Comparative anatomy and metabolic profiles of brown and white adipose tissue in humans](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1821542/full) — Frontiers in Endocrinology · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/116
2. [Plasticity of Adipose Tissues: Interconversion among White, Brown, and Beige Fat and Its Role in Energy Homeostasis](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11048349/) — Biomolecules (MDPI), via PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/117
3. [Adipose Tissue (Body Fat): Anatomy & Function](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24052-adipose-tissue-body-fat) — Cleveland Clinic · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/118
4. [Visceral Fat: What It Is & How It Affects You](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24147-visceral-fat) — Cleveland Clinic · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/119
5. [Brown adipose tissue: what have we learned since its recent identification in human adults](http://www.scielo.br/j/abem/a/NF7L3d7NZbPxQXwtXnbB6Jn/?lang=en) — Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/120
6. [Leptin 30 years – A chat with Jeffrey M. Friedman](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11967189/) — Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism, via PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/121
7. [Lipodystrophies - StatPearls](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459180/) — NCBI Bookshelf, U.S. National Library of Medicine · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/122
8. [Obesity and overweight (fact sheet)](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight) — World Health Organization · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/123
9. [A Simple and Effective Mechanical Method for Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Isolation](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11055620/) — Cureus, via PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/124
10. [Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies](https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/important-patient-and-consumer-information-about-regenerative-medicine-therapies) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/96