What the best evidence now shows about visceral and subcutaneous fat loss
Abdominal fat is not a single tissue. It exists in two distinct compartments: visceral fat (surrounding internal organs) and subcutaneous fat (stored under the skin). Both increase cardiometabolic risk, but they do not respond identically to exercise.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials provides the most rigorous answer to date on how exercise intensity influences abdominal fat loss in adults with overweight and obesity.
Why Abdominal Fat Matters
Excess abdominal fat is strongly linked to:
