View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal Carrying excess weight around your midsection can be frustrating, especially if you maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Yet, millions of people worldwide struggle with their weight,  It is crucial to understand that belly fat is more than just a layer under your clothes. It is an active endocrine organ that secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines throughout the body, contributing to our risk for chronic diseases. It's important to recognize that this is not a reflection of personal failure. Our modern-day lifestyles are overloaded with stress, environmental toxins, and convenience foods that actively work against us. In today’s episode, we will explore visceral fat (a.k.a. belly fat), the factors that contribute to it, and how to address it using the principles of Functional Medicine effectively. In this episode, I dive into: Understanding belly fat and obesity (2:51)  The role of diet and lifestyle in the accumulation of belly fat (10:48)  The impact of sleep, alcohol, and stress on weight gain (19:14)  What are obesogens, and how do they make us gain weight? (21:44) Health risks associated with visceral fat and belly fat (23:05)  Where does conventional medicine miss the mark? (24:14) Functional medicine's approach to assessing and addressing visceral fat (26:38)  Dietary and lifestyle changes to reduce visceral fat (30:52)  Rupa University is hosting FREE classes and bootcamps for healthcare providers who want to learn more about Functional Medicine testing. Sign up at RupaUniversity.com. Upgrade your cookware, appliances and more with Our Place. Head over to FromOurPlace.com and enter code HYMAN at checkout to receive 10% off site-wide.