In order to identify factors associated with preferential loss of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) versus subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) during weight loss, Chaston and Dixon conducted a systematic review of the literature on image-based weight loss intervention trials. Among 61 studies with a total of 98 samples, percent weight loss was found to be the only variable explaining the percentage of VAT vs. SAT loss (r=-0.29, p=0.005). This relationship was found to be independent of the weight-loss method used. Interestingly, it was also reported that very-low-calorie diets cause the greatest loss of VAT, but only in short-term interventions. Given the rapid VAT loss with acute caloric restriction, the authors suggested that VAT, rather than SAT, might play a physiological role in providing energy in times of acute negative energy balance. On the whole, study results underline the fact that modest weight loss may induce metabolic benefits if it is accompanied by preferential loss of VAT.
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