A new study has revealed that visceral fat—the hidden fat stored deep inside the body around vital organs—may speed up the aging of the heart.
While aging is the greatest risk factor for heart disease, scientists have long wondered why some people’s hearts age faster than others.
This research suggests that hidden fat could be an important piece of the puzzle.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal and led by scientists at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London, used data from more than 21,000 participants in the UK Biobank.
This large health database includes detailed body imaging that maps how much fat a person has and where it is stored, along with heart scans and blood test results.
Using artificial intelligence to analyze these images, researchers were able to calculate a “heart age” for each participant, reflecting how old their heart and blood vessels appeared compared to their actual age.
They found that people with more visceral fat had older-looking hearts. This type of fat, which wraps around organs like the liver, stomach, and intestines, is not visible from the outside. That means someone can look slim or have a normal weight yet still carry high levels of visceral fat.
Blood tests suggested that visceral fat is tied to higher levels of inflammation in the body, which may explain how it contributes to premature heart aging. Inflammation damages tissues over time, making them stiff and less able to function properly.
The research also highlighted key differences between men and women.
Men, who are more likely to carry fat around their abdomen in an “apple” shape, showed stronger signs of early heart aging. In contrast, women with fat stored around their hips and thighs—the so-called “pear” shape—seemed to have some protection against heart aging.
Higher estrogen levels in premenopausal women were also linked to slower heart aging, suggesting that hormones may play a protective role.
Professor Declan O’Regan, who led the research, explained that while body mass index (BMI) is often used to measure obesity, it is not a reliable way to predict heart aging. “What really matters is where the fat is stored,” he said.
“Bad fat, hidden deep inside the abdomen, is harmful. But in women, some fat around the hips and thighs may actually help protect the heart.”
The findings also raise the possibility of new treatments. O’Regan’s team hopes to explore whether medicines such as GLP-1 inhibitors, which are already used for diabetes and obesity, could also reduce the aging effects of visceral fat.
For now, experts stress that lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and staying active remain the best ways to reduce harmful visceral fat and protect long-term heart health.
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