Does fast food lead to unhealthy visceral belly fat?

Researchers tracked 3,156 young adults for 25 years. The more often they ate at fast food restaurants, the higher their visceral (deep belly) fat, whether or not they had obesity. And those who ate fast food at least three times a week had roughly five times the risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) compared to those who ate fast food no more than once a month.

What to do

Limit typical fast-food fare. This kind of study can’t prove that fast food creates more visceral or liver fat. (The scientists accounted for many factors, but something else about fast-food eaters could explain the results.) Still, cheeseburgers, fries, and shakes are a far cry from a healthy eating plan.