Study Finds Hidden Body Fat Accelerates Heart Aging

A new study has identified a clear link between hidden fat surrounding internal organs, known as visceral adipose tissue, and faster aging of the heart and blood vessels. While aging itself is the strongest risk factor for heart disease, researchers at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Sciences investigated why some people experience accelerated heart aging. Their findings suggest that visceral fat could play an important role in this process, while other types of fat appear to have protective effects.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, analyzed whole-body and cardiac imaging data from 21,241 participants in the UK Biobank. Advanced artificial intelligence was used to detect signs of organ aging, such as stiffening and inflammation in the heart. Each participant was assigned a “heart age” to compare with their actual age. Results showed strong connections between higher levels of visceral fat and accelerated heart ageing. Importantly, some individuals had excess visceral fat despite appearing healthy in body weight, which highlights the limitations of using BMI alone to estimate cardiovascular risk.

Blood tests further suggested that visceral fat increases inflammation, a factor linked to premature aging. Distinct differences also emerged between men and women. Male-type fat distribution, commonly described as an “apple” shape concentrated around the belly, strongly predicted earlier heart aging. For women, fat stored in the hips and thighs—sometimes described as a “pear” shape—appeared to slow heart aging, particularly before menopause. Higher estrogen levels were also associated with protective effects, indicating a possible biological role for hormones.

Declan O’Regan, who led the study, explained: “We have known about the apple and pear distinction in body fat, but it hasn't been clear how it leads to poor health outcomes. Our research shows that ‘bad’ fat, hidden deep around the organs, accelerates aging of the heart. But some types of fat could protect against aging—specifically fat around the hips and thighs in women.” He added that being physically active does not always offset the risks of hidden visceral fat, which may still be harmful.

The researchers plan to explore whether drug treatments, such as GLP-1 inhibitors used in diabetes and obesity, could also improve heart ageing by targeting visceral fat reserves.