The SCVC Blog

Cardiovascular care news and articles from our expert team

PCSK9, visceral fat, and the modern metabolic environment

Because cholesterol is a fat-like substance, it cannot dissolve or travel freely in blood, which is mostly water. To move around, it must be packaged into microscopic transport particles called lipoproteins. One of these, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), acts as the main delivery vehicle, carrying cholesterol from the liver to cells that need it for repair or hormone production. In small amounts, LDL cholesterol is therefore completely normal and necessary. The problem only begins when too much LDL remains circulating in the blood for too long.

Cardiometabolic Risk in 2026: From Self-Management to Structured Escalation

Cardiometabolic risk develops gradually through visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance and rising blood pressure. A structured escalation model — from supported self-management to specialist review and selective GLP-1 therapy — allows proportionate intervention before overt cardiovascular disease emerges. Early, coordinated action can alter long-term risk trajectories.

Why a Cardiologist Puts Cream on His Porridge

An article by Dr Edward Leatham, Consultant Cardiologist © 2025 E. Leatham This article explores carbohydrates, visceral fat (VAT), and why adding fats to food may lower your cardiometabolic risk. Short on time? Listen to the 15-minute VAT-Trap podcast summary […]

Menopause, Belly Fat and Long Term Health: why HRT and Visceral Fat Screening Matter

Menopause often brings a hidden shift in fat storage—from hips to abdomen—driven by falling oestrogen and loss of muscle. This article explains why visceral fat matters more than weight, how simple screening can detect risk early, and how HRT, lifestyle change, and modern tools can protect long-term heart and metabolic health.

an older couple using free weights at home

If You Spend 2 Minutes Brushing Your Teeth, Why Not 10 Minutes Saving Your Life?

Ten minutes of strength training, five days a week, is enough to change metabolic health. Like brushing your teeth, it works because it’s sustainable. Keep the time fixed, increase the weights gradually, and focus on strength, not scales. Small daily habits protect muscle, reduce visceral fat, and support long-term health.

Statins, Absolute Benefit, and the Problem of Residual Risk

When people think about cholesterol, they often imagine it as something floating in the blood, disconnected from body fat. In reality, the type and location of body fat — particularly visceral fat (VAT) — profoundly influence how the liver packages and clears cholesterol. Raised VAT doesn’t just sit silently around the organs; it acts like an endocrine organ, sending chemical distress signals that shift lipid metabolism in an atherogenic direction.

Sarcopenia: Are We Diagnosing the Correct Muscle Problem?

In cardiometabolic medicine, muscle is not a cosmetic tissue but a metabolic organ. Evidence consistently shows that strength, not muscle mass, predicts insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk, and survival. Many older adults are not losing muscle tissue — they are losing muscle function, and that is the pathology that matters.

Why GLP-1 Withdrawal Trials Fail — and Why Cardiometabolic Care Must Look Different

A 2026 BMJ systematic review confirms that weight regain is the rule after stopping pharmacological weight-management therapy. Across drug classes, most lost weight is regained within 24 months, with parallel loss of metabolic benefit. This reflects biological defence of adiposity, not patient failure.

Medical imaging is the only accurate way to assess body composition

Medical imaging is the only reliable way to assess true body composition. Weight and smart scales cannot distinguish bone, muscle, or visceral fat. DEXA and low-dose CT provide accurate insight, while home tracking tools support the behavioural change needed to lower visceral fat and long-term cardiometabolic risk.

Smart body composition scales: helpful metabolic tool—or misleading distraction?

Smart body composition scales are not metabolic truth machines. Their value lies in engagement, not precision. During weight loss—especially with GLP-1 therapy—hydration and glycogen shifts distort “muscle” readings. Used within a tiered system that prioritises waist, strength, and function, they can support behaviour without undermining progress.

A New Year Reset: Why Your Waist Matters More Than Your Scales

January isn’t just about weight loss. Much winter weight gain occurs as visceral fat, which drives insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Measuring your waist, not just your weight, gives a clearer picture of metabolic health. Building muscle and reducing visceral fat supports a healthier metabolism long after January ends.

Your Roadmap to CHD Prevention: A 4-Step Guide

Coronary heart disease often presents without warning, making early prevention essential. This article outlines a personalised approach to identifying individual risk, detecting underlying coronary inflammation and plaque, and implementing structured preventive strategies. Combining risk scoring, advanced imaging and holistic management, we help patients reduce the likelihood of future heart events.