The biggest misconception about body fat is that it’s always dangerous and unhealthy. Certain levels of VAT are important because they help protect your organs, surround important blood vessels, and supply blood to abdominal organs. As it cushions the organs, VAT can prevent damage. However, too much VAT is not good for you and may lead to major health problems. Since it can actively increase the risk of health problems, visceral adipose tissue is often referred to as “active fat.” Here are some of the dangers of Visceral Fat.

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a type of fat that is located in the abdominal cavity and wraps around organs such as the intestines, pancreas, and liver. It is called visceral fat because this fat is close to viscera, i.e., internal organs. The abdominal area is quite stubborn. Most people struggle to lose weight in this specific area and find it difficult to tone their stomachs. Excess fat in the abdominal region results from various factors.

Losing muscle when you are attempting to lose weight can affect your health negatively. When it comes to weight loss, it’s important to strive to reach your ideal weight without compromising strong lean muscle. But since increasing muscle mass can in itself lead to weight gain, can you really build muscle while losing weight, and how can you do so?

Hit Netflix Documentary “You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment” is creating a big divide between proponents of a plant-based diet and the rest of the world. The documentary is based on a Stanford study that follows 22 sets of genetically identical twins as they go on opposing diets: ominvore and vegan. Amid this debate, many viewers decided to conduct their own experiments, including through the use of the DEXA scan.

New Netflix docuseries, You Are What You Eat, showcases the DEXA scan in a twin experiment. The four-series documentary is based on an 8-week study led by Stanford University’s Christopher D. Gardner. The study puts 22 sets of genetically identical twins on opposing diets and measures progress. Once of the first tests that that TV show highlights at the beginning of the show is the DEXA scan.

One in two woman over 50 will break a bone because of low bone density. In fact, everyone will lose bone as they age. But for some of us, that risk looks a lot bigger. 

Bone density refers to the amount of minerals (mostly phosphorus and calcium) in your bones. The more mineral content, the “denser” (and stronger) your bones. Bone density testing measures the strength of your bones. It can also reveal whether you have a bone disease and predict how likely your bones are to break.

We are excited to share that we've recently made an update to Fitnescity reports.

The new Fitnescity "Snapshot" gives you a summary of all your results.  

The new “Trends” section, a popular feature, allows you to visualize changes in *all* your metrics in one place. 

The new Sports Medicine and Community Health (SMaCH) Lab at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has launched a partnership with national testing aggregator Fitnescity to utilize the expertise both entities can provide for wellness assessments.

Healthy isn’t just an adjective - it’s a lifestyle! But too many adults wait until their health starts sliding before they make it a priority. As the old saying goes, if we don’t make time for our wellness, we’ll be forced to make time for our illness. That’s why making wellness a habit at a young age will help set us up for life. So, when exactly should we start monitoring our wellness? And what does that even mean? Here’s why and how healthy starts early.

We throw around the word “metabolism,” but its meaning is often misunderstood. Your resting metabolic rate isn't necessarily fast or slow but instead high or low. This number measures how many calories your body burns at rest, providing an important way to track progress toward goals such as overall fitness, weight loss, or athletic performance. We join NFL star Devon Kennard as he learns how knowing his RMR and body composition can improve his workouts.

Is it time to cancel weight culture? You know, the “I have to reach a certain number on the scale” type of culture. The “I want to be a size 6” kind of mindset. We got here because we tend to treat weight as health. We think if we can reach the target weight to meet BMI standards, then we’re healthy… right? Real talk: Weight does matter. But it’s not the only thing that matters. And the Arizona Cardinals’ Devon Kennard is a perfect example of this.

Weight, BMI, blood pressure—the information we need to measure our health sometimes seem endless. So when it comes to cardiovascular fitness, can the VO2 max test really give us the full picture? Explore how examining the way your body uses oxygen during exercise can illustrate how well your heart and lungs are working together, an indicator of future cardiac wellness.

How long do you have to weight lift before you can start flexing like you mean it? You’re building muscles with every workout, and we all want them to come out of hiding sooner or later. But seeing those muscles in the mirror isn’t just a matter of time but also a matter of body fat. In order to really see all your hard work pay off, your focus should be on reducing body fat—and there’s an art to it. Use a body composition test, like DEXA or BOD POD, to track your progress.

Fitnescity aims to make health and wellness monitoring more manageable by providing access to in-person lab testing and visual analytics. The company’s platform aggregates testing clinics and enables people to easily find, schedule, and pay for tests. It also presents results to users in a way that is easy to understand. Over time, Fitnescity can also show users trends to help them understand how diet and lifestyle changes are impacting their health.

When it comes to weight loss, the scale doesn't give you the whole story about how healthy you really are. Explore strategies to optimize your body composition as you strive to reach your ideal weight without compromising strong lean muscle. Losing weight often also means losing muscle, which impacts not only your strength but also your stamina, flexibility, and heart health. Loss of lean mass also results in a higher percentage of body fat, elevating your risk of countless chronic conditions. Getting an RMR or a DEXA scan can help you achieve your goals.

Here’s a fun fact that will make you oh-so-glad to see “Aunt Flo”: you might burn more calories when you’re on your period. During a time when your hormones are going crazy, cravings set in, and you’re feeling bloated and sluggish, you’ll be glad to know there are some things to be happy about. Exercise can be one of the best things to do during your period, especially if you want the most calorie bang for your buck.

Does muscle tissue go away or shrink when we stop exercising? Does it turn into fat or simply disappear? Despite the common phrase “use it or lose it,” most people don't know what actually happens to lean muscle if something puts us on the sidelines and we can't keep up with our workout routines. Learn about exercise helps you to maintain a healthy body composition.

Devon Kennard a linebacker on the Arizona Cardinals (NFL) is a new investor in Fitnescity, a rapidly growing software company that makes health and wellness testing available to everyday consumers, and then provides test results that are both easy to understand and track. Devon utilizes routine DEXA, RMR and VO2 testing to optimize his wellness.

Fitnescity has expanded its partnership with Quest Diagnostics to make accessing blood panels easier. Building on its earlier at-home blood panel offering, Fitnescity now invites customers to visit a Quest location to add valuable information to their Fitnescity dashboard helping them gain a more complete picture of their wellness.