Measuring visceral body fat refers to techniques used to determine the amount of fat stored within the abdominal cavity. This type of fat, unlike subcutaneous fat, is located deep within the body and surrounds vital organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines.
Measuring visceral body fat is crucial for assessing overall health risks, as it is strongly linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Historically, measuring visceral fat involved invasive procedures like biopsies or CT scans. However, advances in technology have led to non-invasive methods, making it more accessible for individuals to track their visceral fat levels.