Adding Soluble Fiber to the Diet May Reduce Abdominal Fat

Increased soluble fibre consumption may reduce the amount of deep belly fat that we accumulate, according to new research.
The study, published in Nature’s journal Obesity, found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber eaten per day, deep belly visceral fat, known to be more dangerous than subcutaneous fat found near the skin, was reduced by 3.7 per cent over five years.

In addition, the authors reported that increased moderate activity resulted in a 7.4 per cent decrease in the rate of visceral fat accumulation over the same time.

“Our study is valuable because it provides specific information on how dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber, may affect weight accumulation through abdominal fat deposits,” said Dr Kristen Hairston, assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

In the longitudinal study, Hairston and her team examined whether lifestyle factors, including diet and frequency of exercise, were associated with a five-year change in abdominal fat of African Americans and Hispanic Americans – populations who are at a disproportionally higher risk for developing high blood pressure and diabetes and accumulating visceral fat.

Central obesity has been associated with hypertension, blood lipid imbalances, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and type-2 diabetes.