Excess Visceral Fat Linked to Accelerated Biological Ageing, Study Finds
核心洞察
A study of nearly 4,800 adults aged 45–69 found that higher visceral fat (搜索) levels are associated with faster biological ageing in both men and women, independent of overall body weight.
In women, greater visceral fat (搜索) was also linked to shorter telomere length, a key marker of cellular ageing, even after adjusting for BMI, waist circumference, and lifestyle factors.
Researchers note that visceral fat (搜索) secretes pro-inflammatory proteins that contribute to systemic inflammation and metabolic stress, and can be measured via routine bone-density imaging.
New research published in the journal Obesity suggests that the deep belly fat wrapped around internal organs—known as visceral fat (搜索)—may accelerate biological ageing in middle-aged adults, independent of how much a person weighs overall.
Researchers from the University of Western Australia analysed nearly 4,800 participants (2,614 females) aged 45 to 69 years from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study and found that greater visceral fat (搜索) was associated with accelerated biological ageing in both men and women. The association held even after accounting for overall body fat, body mass index, waist circumference, and lifestyle factors.
"Visceral fat (搜索) is metabolically active, secreting a range of pro-inflammatory proteins, which contribute to systemic inflammation and metabolic stress," said Adjunct Associate Professor Kun Zhu, a co-author of the study.
Cellular ageing signals in women
In women, the findings were particularly striking. Higher levels of visceral fat (搜索) were linked to shorter telomere length—the repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes that serve as a key marker of cellular ageing. As those protective caps shorten, cells age and wear out, a process scientists often compare to the fraying of plastic tips on shoelaces.
"Our study shows that visceral fat (搜索) is associated with faster biological and cellular ageing," said Adjunct Associate Professor Jennie Hui, Director of the Busselton Health Study Laboratory. "Understanding what drives faster ageing helps us find better ways to stay healthier for longer."
A measurable risk factor
Unlike subcutaneous fat, which sits just beneath the skin, visceral fat (搜索) behaves less like a passive storage depot and more like an active endocrine organ, pumping out inflammatory chemicals that place the body under constant physiological stress. The researchers emphasised that this deep abdominal fat can be easily measured using imaging technology already widely deployed in routine bone-density scans—offering a practical clinical tool beyond the bathroom scale.
Mr Riorden O'Shea, a resident medical officer with the WA Country Health Service who led the analysis, highlighted the value of the underlying dataset. "Access to high-quality longitudinal data allowed us to better understand how clinical risk factors relate to long-term health outcomes," he said.
Established in 1966, the Busselton Health Study is internationally recognised as one of the world's longest-running population health programs, providing a rich longitudinal dataset that continues to support research into chronic disease and healthy ageing.
The findings highlight the importance of targeting abdominal fat as part of strategies to promote healthier ageing, suggesting that keeping deep abdominal fat in check may help people stay biologically younger for longer.