{"id":4611,"date":"2025-08-02T17:53:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T16:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fat-loss-quest.co.uk\/blog\/?p=4611"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:31:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:31:15","slug":"what-is-belly-fat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fat-loss-quest.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-belly-fat\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Belly Fat: In-Depth Guide to What Causes Belly Fat."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hi, Phil here (founding creator and author of Fat Loss Quest.co.uk), author of The 27yr Blueprint<\/a><\/em><\/strong> after losing 28lbs excess body fat and 8″ Belly Fat, with some usefull insights into what is belly fat<\/strong> and what causes belly fat<\/strong>. If you’re struggling with excess abdominal weight ( as I was after 8yrs of marriage) and want to learn what causes it before learning how to lose belly fat, keep reading and I’ll reveal proven, science backed methods to lose the excess at the end of this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Belly Fat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To fully understand this question, we need to understand the biology behind belly fat and specifically how our bodies create this ever growing mountain of stored energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Adipose Tissue \/ Adipocytes in Energy Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Belly fat (also known as stomach or abdominal fat) is the excess energy stored within the adipose tissue in your abdominal area. Whilst this excess energy can be stored throughout the body (hips, shoulders, chest, thighs, arms), the abdominal area is typically the first part of the body to store this excess energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this discussion we are solely focusing on belly fat \u2013 the excess energy that is stored in our belly or abdominal area. Belly fat is generally<\/em> the first type of fat we accumulate. In the early stages this “energy” can be lost relatively easily through an increase in exercise \/ reduction in glucose storage. Left to accumulate, it can become very serious health problem for you\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Understanding<\/strong> What is Belly Fat<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This 3d conceptualised Illustration reveals the layering of belly fat within the abdomen. Understanding what causes it can lead to the rapid loss of belly fat and<\/em><\/strong> improve overall health.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The 2 Types of Belly Fat\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two distinct types of belly fat. Subcutaneous fat and Viceral fat. Each having their own issues in regards to your health and how they are removed. The differences in belly fat are largely dependant on lifestyle. Predominantly, poor diet and lack of effective exercise are the primary causes of both visceral and subcutaneous belly fat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two Types of Belly Fat<\/strong> : Subcutaneous and Visceral. Subcutaneous Fat is easier to lose with simple dietary improvements. Rapid loss of subcutaneous fat can be achieved in a clean eating weight loss plan that incorporates H.I.I.T (high intensity interval training).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Visceral Fat (fat that surrounds the organs inside the body cavity) needs a longer, more intense diet and exercise regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image : Adobe\/zhenyakot<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Visceral Fat<\/strong>. Visceral fat is stored around the internal organs of the body and is potentially the most lethal of the two. Visceral fat can \u2018strangle\u2019 the organs and effectively cause multiple organ failure. Deposits around the liver, kidneys and heart can have catastrophic effects on other parts of the body, potentially resulting in death or severe disablement through oxygen starvation to the brain, muscles and other organs. Nutrient supply to the body\u2019s organs are also restricted causing a wealth of health related issues \u2013 loss of brain function \/ disease, loss of muscle tissue leading to a further increase in fat deposits, poor skin condition, poor hair condition, loss of energy and vitality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Subcutaneous Belly Fat<\/strong>. The second type of belly fat sits just under the skin. In our early years, this was also known as \u2018puppy fat\u2019. This is the easiest type of belly fat to remove or burn off. This can be done easily through a healthy low carb diet (low carb diets reduce the volume of useless and dangerous carbohydrates entering the body). Wheat and wheat based products are probably the biggest causes of excess fat deposits and the obesity epidemic \u2013 a subject to be discussed in greater detail in another article.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What Causes Belly Fat<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As previously mentioned in “The Role of Adipose Tissue<\/em><\/strong>” belly fat is caused (primarily) by the excess accumulation of glucose stored as fat in the adipose tissue. There are numerous causes of belly fat – not just through excess glucose storage including :<\/p>\n\n\n\n