Reducing Visceral Fat and Building Muscle May Be Key to Better Lung Health

A recent study found that lung function is significantly impacted in people with high visceral fat and low muscle mass.

The research shows that the rate at which lung function declines in individuals with low muscle mass and high visceral fat can be up to four times higher than in those with high muscle mass and low visceral fat. This raises the chance of developing dangerous diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.

The Seoul Asan Medical Center research team analyzed abdominal CT and lung capacity data from more than 15,000 adults. They found that people with more muscle mass and less visceral fat tended to have higher lung capacity, and those with sarcopenic obesity had the highest rate of lung function decline. This is the first large-scale analysis of the effects of skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat on lung function.

The study utilized health examination data from 15,827 adults collected between 2012 and 2013. By measuring muscle mass and visceral fat using abdominal CT scans and comparing the results to lung capacity, the researchers discovered that people with higher visceral fat and lower muscle mass had the worst lung function. Compared to the healthy group, the sarcopenic obese group experienced a lung function decline rate of 19.1% in men, which was more than four times higher. Women exhibited a similar pattern, with the obese sarcopenic group experiencing a decline in lung function that was more than three times faster.

On the other hand, people with more muscle mass and less visceral fat had the highest lung capacity. The researchers explained that healthy muscles activate the muscles that play a role in breathing and allow the rib cage to expand enough to increase lung capacity. The group with more visceral fat, however, had lower lung capacity, suggesting that visceral fat can weaken lung function by reducing the volume of the rib cage and triggering an inflammatory response.

The researchers emphasize the importance of reducing visceral fat and increasing healthy muscle to improve lung function. The study, published in the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, offers a new approach to maintaining healthy lungs.