India, Sept. 21 -- Visceral fat has emerged as one of the latest weight-loss buzzwords on social media, with videos promising to "burn belly fat", "target deep abdominal fat" or even get rid of a so-called "cortisol belly". But beneath the catchy online terminology lies a genuine health concern. Unlike the fat stored just beneath the skin, visceral fat accumulates deep within the abdomen, surrounding internal organs, and is linked to several metabolic health risks. So, what exactly is visceral fat, who is more likely to accumulate it, and what can actually help reduce it?

In a conversation with HT Lifestyle, Dr Pankaj Sharma - the director of the Department of Robotics, Bariatric, Laparoscopic and General Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Shal...