Belly Fat and Cancer

Anonymous

Belly Fat and Cancer

Kayrem

Hi - just saw this article and was wondering if anyone else had seen this or had any comments. I am wondering what (if any) implications this could have on reconstruction.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319160.ph...

I do not know much about the journal (if credible or not?).

Bosombuddy101

You mean the Diep flap reconstruction? Wow! Very scary. Thank-you for sharing that article.

Lula73

DON'T freak out just yet about DIEP flap recon and this study. The fat they're talking about in this study is Visceral Fat aka VAT. VAT is the fat that surrounds our organs and is located under our abdominal muscles. VAT is also the fat thatcardioligists worry about due to its relationship to CV disease and risk of heart attack and death from heart attack.

By contrast, the fat used for DIEP flap is NOT visceral fat/VAT but rather Subcutaneous Fat - the fat between the skin and the abdominal muscle. No need to worry those who have had or are considering DIEP flap over this study that examined the effects of a very different type of fat that is in no way involved in that procedure

The big question from this study is whether the levels they detected in VAT fat is influenced by the amount of VAT or if there is potentially a genetic or metabolic component to why the elevated levels are present.

Kayrem

Thanks Lula 74 for clarifying that! I never know if I should post stuff if I do not know a lot about the topic. But then I think people who know more on it can expand on it

Lula73

better to post it and get clarification than to have misunderstandings out there that could potentially influence decisions we make based on those misunderstandings

misslil

Has anyone talked with their MO on this? I had a similar question how or if this might be relevant to fat grafting.

I asked my MO if he had any questions on fat grafting which my PS is scheduled to do in a month or so. The target to take from would probably be my stomach which err has the most plentiful supply...

He had no questions about it but the report of this study came out after.

Lula73

misslil- fat harvested for fat grafting is not visceral fat. They use subcutaneous fat (the fat located between the skin and the muscle) for fat grafting. Visceral fat or VAT is the fat that surrounds the organs in our abdominal cavity located under our abdominal muscles. Visceral fat is the fat that was of concern in the study and is very different from the subcutaneous fat that your dr will be using for your grafting pricedure

misslil

thanks Lula. Is the risk in this article anything that one can do anything about? Or it's just there if this is fat way on the interior and not easily subject to change from diet/etc.

SpecialK

VAT is affected by weight loss, so if you are overweight and lose weight the percentage of VAT is also reduced - I believe the general formula is for every pound of fat reduced you reduce 1% of VAT, although this may differ with each individual. Eating a high fat diet or a diet high in trans fats specifically, consuming alcohol and sugar, and a sedentary lifestyle may all contribute to increase in VAT. Eating more lean protein and fiber-rich food, reducing stress (cortisol), getting enough sleep, taking probiotics, intermittent fasting, and high intensity exercise may all help reduce VAT.