A high level of abdominal fat, however, has been linked to an increased risk of acquiring a variety of chronic conditions. Therefore, it's beneficial to maintain a healthy amount of total body fat, which includes belly fat.
Both subcutaneous fat and visceral fat, which surrounds your abdominal organs, contribute to your overall belly fat percentage.
Soft subcutaneous fat is what gives the appearance of a "jiggling" tummy. Females, on average, have more subcutaneous fat than males do (3Reliable Sources).
On the other hand, research suggests that keeping your belly fat and body fat percentages where they should be may lower your chance of acquiring chronic illness.
Increased resistance to the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar levels, is closely associated with visceral fat. High blood sugar levels and the eventual onset of type 2 diabetes have been linked to insulin resistance (8 Trusted Source).
The accumulation of visceral fat, which leads to a "apple-shaped" physique in males, is more common than in women. However, women are more prone to gain weight around their hips and thighs, giving them a "pear" look (3 Trusted Sources).
Fat shifts about the body in interesting ways as people become older. Visceral fat is associated with an increased risk of metabolic illness ,
Additionally, persons of European descent have a greater prevalence of visceral fat than those of other ethnicities (2Reliable Source).