Subcutaneous Fat: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (2024)

Subcutaneous fat, or the fat located under the skin, stores energy. How much you have can depend on genetics as well as lifestyle factors like physical activity and diet.

Subcutaneous fat vs. visceral fat

Your body has two primary kinds of fat: subcutaneous fat (which is under the skin) and visceral fat (which is around the organs).

The amount of subcutaneous fat you develop depends on genetics as well as lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet.

People with a large amount of subcutaneous fat often have a large amount of visceral fat.

Everybody is born with subcutaneous fat. Aside from genetics, people typically have greater amounts of subcutaneous fat if they:

Why do we have subcutaneous fat?

The top layer of your skin is the epidermis. The middle layer is the dermis. Subcutaneous fat is the deepest layer.

Subcutaneous fat has five main functions:

  1. It’s the one way that your body stores energy.
  2. It functions as a padding to protect your muscles and bones from the impact of hits or falls.
  3. It serves as a passageway for nerves and blood vessels between your skin and your muscles.
  4. It insulates your body, helping it regulate temperature.
  5. It attaches the dermis to the muscles and bones with its special connecting tissue.

Subcutaneous fat is an important part of your body, but if your body is storing too much of it, you may be at a higher risk for health problems including:

One way of determining if you are overweight is by measuring your body mass index (BMI), which provides the ratio of your weight to your height:

  • normal weight: BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
  • overweight: BMI of 25 to 29.9
  • obesity: BMI of 30 or higher

Another way to determine whether you have excess fat is to measure your waist size. It’s been suggested that men with a waist size over 40 inches and women with a waist size over 35 inches could have a higher risk of developing obesity-related diseases.

The two most frequently recommended methods for shedding excess subcutaneous fat are diet and physical activity.

Diet

The basic principle of losing subcutaneous fat via diet is to consume fewer calories than you burn.

There are a number of dietary changes that help improve the types of food and drink you consume. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend a healthful diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, fiber, whole grains and nuts.

It should also contain lean proteins (soy, fish, or poultry) and should be low in added sugars, salt, red meat, and saturated fats.

Physical activity

One way your body stores energy is by building up subcutaneous fat. To get rid of the buildup of subcutaneous fat, you must burn energy/calories.

Aerobic activity is a recommended way to burn calories and includes walking, running, cycling, swimming, and other movement-based activities that increase the heart rate.

Many people who are increasing their activity to lose subcutaneous fat also participate in strength training like lifting weights. This type of activity increases lean muscle which can boost your metabolism and help burn calories.

There are a number of positive reasons that your body has subcutaneous fat, but having an excess can be bad for your health.

Spend some time with your doctor to determine the proper amount of fat for you and — if you are not at your ideal level — to help put together a diet and activity plan for optimum health.

Subcutaneous Fat: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (2024)

FAQs

Subcutaneous Fat: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It? ›

Subcutaneous fat is fat that is visible just under the skin. Ways of reducing it include swapping some carbohydrates for protein, doing aerobic exercise, and managing mental health issues. Subcutaneous fat is normally harmless and may even protect against some diseases. Visceral fat is fat that surrounds the organs.

What is the fastest way to get rid of subcutaneous fat? ›

The best way to lose subcutaneous fat is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can lower your subcutaneous fat level by focusing on a fat-burning diet and exercise plan. In addition, getting enough sleep and keeping stress at bay are important for losing subcutaneous fat.

Can subcutaneous fat be removed? ›

A typical example of these body contouring surgeries is the abdominoplasty (as known as Tummy Tuck) surgery which suddenly removes around 2–3 kg of abdominal subcutaneous fat (ASF) tissue, and usually is followed by tightening of the abdominal wall muscles, to correct divarication of recti muscles [9].

Is subcutaneous fat hard to lose? ›

It also protects your body from extreme temperatures, trauma injuries, and eating too much. However, the fact that this type of fat is helpful in your body makes it harder to lose. Losing subcutaneous fat can be a slow process. It involves making combined changes to your diet and physical activity routines.

How long does it take to lose subcutaneous belly fat? ›

How Long Will It Take Me to Lose Excess Belly Fat? Losing belly fat can reduce your health risks. With a reduced-calorie diet, you may be able to lose about 1 pound of fat a week. Adding exercise will help speed up your metabolism and tone your abdomen.

What burns the most subcutaneous fat? ›

Aerobic exercises: These exercises help you lose overall fat, including subcutaneous fat. Examples include brisk walking, running, swimming and jumping rope. To reap the maximum benefits of aerobics, perform these exercises with greater intensity and for a longer duration.

Does drinking water help lose subcutaneous fat? ›

Water plays an important part in busting fat so that you can burn it as energy. When you stay hydrated, your body is able to break fat down continually as your body needs more fuel. Limiting your water prevents your body from shedding weight.

Which drink is best to reduce belly fat? ›

​Pineapple juice

Pineapple juice contains bromelain, a powerful enzyme that aids in metabolizing protein and burning excess stomach fat. Enjoying a glass of pineapple juice can be a delicious and effective remedy for targeting belly fat. Make this tropical treat a regular part of your routine.

What exercise burn the most belly fat? ›

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

How do I know if my belly fat is visceral or subcutaneous? ›

Subcutaneous fat is fat that's stored just beneath your skin. It's the kind that you can pinch between your fingers. Visceral fat is different. Visceral fat is behind your abdominal muscles and can't be seen.

Why is my subcutaneous fat so high? ›

The amount of subcutaneous fat you develop depends on genetics as well as lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet. People with a large amount of subcutaneous fat often have a large amount of visceral fat.

Does walking burn subcutaneous fat? ›

Lower-speed and longer duration of aerobic exercise over a 4.8 km distance will produce greater total body fat loss than isocaloric exercise at a higher speed. Our second hypothesis is supported by suggestive evidence of greater SC fat loss at higher walking speeds and relative intensities [33,38,39,41,42].

What is the hardest fat to remove? ›

The abdomen is one of the most stubborn areas for fat and can be challenging to reduce. There are many reasons for this. First, abdominal fat tends to be more visceral than subcutaneous (or “belly” fat). This means it's located more profoundly in your body, around internal organs such as your liver and kidneys.

How to get rid of female subcutaneous fat naturally? ›

Therefore, exercises that burn the most energy are most effective for losing subcutaneous fat. These include strength training, high-intensity cardio, and brisk walking. Counting Calories, Not Steps: Being in a caloric deficit is the only way to lose subcutaneous fat naturally.

What are the 5 foods that burn belly fat? ›

11 foods that fight visceral belly fat include:
  • Whole grains.
  • Non-starchy vegetables.
  • Fruits such as berries, apples, pears, avocados.
  • Olive oil.
  • Beans.
  • Legumes.
  • Nuts.
  • Seeds.
Apr 9, 2024

Can subcutaneous fat be massaged away? ›

Yes it can!

In one study, participants shaved an average of around 2 mm off their waists through massage alone. This study evaluated the effect of 3 different massage techniques: mechanical massage, connective tissue manipulation, and manual lymphatic drainage.

Does fasting reduce subcutaneous fat? ›

Though intermittent fasting may improve weight loss, it is often due to the loss of subcutaneous fat (this also holds for liposuction) and not visceral fat loss. Recent research states that visceral fat often becomes resistant to fat breakdown during intermittent fasting.

What burns the most belly fat? ›

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

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