Visceral adiposity is associated with metabolic profiles predictive of type 2 diabetes and myocardial infarction

Obesity increases risk for multiple diseases, likely due to changes in how the body breaks down carbohydrates and fats and due to the molecules that circulate in the blood as a result. In obesity, the accumulation of fat around the internal organs of the abdomen (visceral fat) may be more detrimental than fat accumulation elsewhere in the body. Here, we show that visceral fat is associated with variations in the levels of various molecules in the blood, and these variations are similar to those that can predict type 2 diabetes and heart disease, not only in adults but also in adolescents. This suggests that visceral fat accumulation may be closely related to development of these diseases from a young age.