Visceral fat may increase after liposuctionVisceral fat may increase after liposuction

Sao Paulo — Women who undergo abdominal liposuction and don’t follow an exercise regimen may add visceral fat after the procedure, according to a small study.

Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo noted a potential for increased visceral fat surrounding the abdominal organs of patients following abdominal liposuction procedures, Reuters reports.

The study followed 36 female patients of normal weight who had a small amount of superficial abdominal fat removed. All of the study’s participants were sedentary prior to the procedure. Half of the participants were randomly assigned an exercise regimen to start two months after surgery, while the rest maintained their normal lifestyle. The women who remained sedentary averaged a 10 percent increase in visceral fat, investigators found. Women following the exercise program had no such gains.

The reasons for the increase in visceral fat are unclear, but they may have to do with the metabolic activity level of this type of fat or due to the structural effects of liposuction on fat deposits, Reuters reports.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

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