Belly fat may reveal heart risk

A study from the University of Porto's Faculty of Medicine found that the characteristics of abdominal fat, rather than just its quantity, can indicate heart disease risk. Led by researcher Jennifer Mancio, the research utilized radiomics to analyze CT scans of 1,736 adults without known coronary disease. The findings suggest that heterogeneous texture in abdominal fat correlates with coronary artery calcification, a marker of atherosclerosis. This study highlights that fat quality is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk, potentially allowing for earlier identification and personalized treatment for obesity-related conditions.