Why Belly Fat Is Different: Visceral vs. Subcutaneous Fat Explained ALT: Illustration showing the difference between subcutaneous belly fat under the skin and visceral fat around abdominal organs. --> Two people can wear the same clothing size, have similar weights, and still carry different amounts of fat deep inside their abdomens. That is one reason belly fat deserves a more thoughtful explanation than the usual advice to do more crunches. The important detail is where the fat sits . Some is stored just under the skin, where you can pinch it. Some lies deeper, around organs such as the intestines. Those two fat stores are not identical in how they behave or in the health risks linked with having too much of them. Here is what makes belly fat different, why a tape measure can sometimes tell you something a scale misses, and which habits have evidence behind them. None of this means you need a perfectly flat stomach to be healthy. What Makes Belly Fat D...