New research suggests that higher levels of visceral fat, the fat stored deep in the abdomen, could contribute to faster biological ageing in middle-aged adults.
Adjunct Associate Professors Jennie Hui and Kun Zhu, from The University of Western Australia, were co-authors of the study published in Obesity, which found visceral fat could impact the ageing process beyond general measures of obesity.
“Our study shows that visceral fat is associated with faster biological and cellular ageing,” said Associate Professor Hui, Director of the Busselton Health Study Laboratory.
“Understanding what drives faster ageing helps us find better ways to stay healthy for longer.”
Researchers analysed nearly 4,800 participants (2,614 females) aged 45 to 69 years of age from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study and found greater visceral fat was associated with accelerated biological ageing in both men and women.
In women, higher levels of visceral fat were also linked to shorter telomere length – the repetitive DNA sequences capping the end of chromosomes that are a key marker of cellular ageing.
“Importantly, these associations remained significant even after accounting for overall body fat, body mass index, waist circumference and lifestyle factors,” Associate Professor Zhu said.
“Visceral fat is metabolically active, secreting a range of pro-inflammatory proteins, which contribute to systemic inflammation and metabolic stress.
“It can be easily measured using imaging technology, which is widely used in routine bone density scans.”
Mr Riorden O’Shea, a resident medical officer with the WA Country Health Service who led the analysis, said the project highlighted the value of long-term population health research.
“Access to high-quality longitudinal data allowed us to better understand how clinical risk factors relate to long-term health outcomes,” Mr O’Shea said.
Established in 1966, the Busselton Health Study is internationally recognised as one of the world’s longest-running population health programs, providing a rich longitudinal dataset that continues to support research into chronic disease and healthy ageing.
The findings highlight the importance of targeting abdominal fat as part of strategies to promote healthier ageing.
