Visceral Belly Fat May Matter More Than Age for Low Testosterone

A new study suggests deep belly fat may be more closely tied to low testosterone in men than age alone.

Medicine

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A 2026 analysis of nearly 5,000 US men aged 20 to 59 found a strong link between visceral fat, the fat stored deep around abdominal organs, and lower total testosterone. Men with higher visceral fat had substantially lower testosterone even when their BMI was similar to that of men with less visceral fat. The study suggests that where body fat is stored may provide information that BMI and waist size can miss. The researchers also note that the relationship may be more complicated than a simple one-way cause and effect, with low testosterone and visceral fat potentially influencing each other. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot by itself prove that visceral fat causes low testosterone. It also raises questions about whether addressing reversible metabolic factors should be considered before testosterone therapy.

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