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If you’re taking GLP-1 mimetics like Mounjaro, Ozempic, or Wegovy, you’re receiving a legitimate, medically prescribed therapy. Just like someone with asthma carries an inhaler, or a diabetic uses insulin, there’s no shame in needing a jab to support your metabolic health. Whether you are travelling or attending a hospitality event, here are some tips on how to navigate these new waters.
For patients with CKD 3b, a high-protein diet may accelerate renal decline and should be avoided. However, metabolic improvement via a moderate low-carbohydrate diet with controlled protein intake (~0.8 g/kg/day) and unsaturated fats is both feasible and safe when guided appropriately. Creatinine changes should be interpreted carefully in the context of diet, and dietary interventions should be closely monitored.
When most people think of a cooked breakfast, they picture something indulgent — bacon, eggs, toast, maybe pancakes or juice. But my version of a cooked breakfast is carefully designed to help reduce visceral fat (VAT), improve satiety, and support stable energy levels throughout the morning. Here's how I do it — and why it works.
Adipose tissue—particularly visceral adipose tissue (VAT)—is not merely a passive energy store. It is metabolically active and pro-inflammatory, secreting cytokines and adipokines that drive systemic inflammation. It is therefore plausible that reducing VAT may alleviate joint pain by lowering inflammatory signalling, not just mechanical stress.
If you have ever found yourself feeling breathless climbing stairs or walking uphill — even though your lung and heart tests are “normal” — you are not alone.Many people attribute it to age or fitness. But recent research has uncovered a powerful hidden cause of breathlessness: visceral fat — the fat stored deep inside your abdomen, around your organs. In this blog, we will explore what visceral fat is, how it affects your breathing, and — most importantly — what you can do about it.
We use waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as a screening tool, followed by low-dose CT to measure VAT index (VATI) against gender- and ethnicity-specific thresholds. Where VATI is high, patients enter a six-month digital lifestyle programme using tools like the Dr Shape food app, CGM, and body composition scales. Pharmacological therapy, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, is reserved for non-responders—making this a precise, cost-effective, and highly personalised pathway for VAT reduction.
Traditional upper limits for ALT (often ≤55 U/L in UK labs) were derived decades ago, before the epidemic of obesity and steatosis. Current evidence suggests these ranges are too high — and that values above 30 U/L may already indicate liver injury in people with metabolic risk. The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines emphasise that a result within the “normal range” may not be reassuring if the patient is metabolically high-risk
For years, the Mediterranean diet has been praised as one of the healthiest ways to eat. Rich in vegetables, olive oil, fish, nuts, and whole grains, it’s been linked to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. But why does it work so well?
An article written by Dr Edward Leatham, Consultant Cardiologist Tags: VAT, LDL, Diet, Visceral Fat, CGM search website using Tags to find related stories. Introduction For decades, health advice has emphasised “low-fat” as the healthy option. Supermarket shelves are stacked with skimmed […]
An article written by Dr Edward Leatham, Consultant Cardiologist Tags: VAT, Diabetes, NH1, search website using Tags to find related stories. While everyone might think the term ‘VAT’ stands for value added tax, we all need to recognise this new health […]
VAT is the principal metabolic culprit in cardiovascular risk. BMI—while simple—fails to capture fat distribution, muscle mass, or ageing effects. Waist-based anthropometrics, particularly waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, more closely reflect VAT and strongly predict cardiovascular outcomes.For cardiologists, this explains why a tape measure around the waist is more valuable than a BMI calculation. Where precise measurement is required—such as in high-risk patients commencing GLP-1 therapy—DEXA and low-dose CT provide direct VAT quantification.In both prevention and clinical practice, tracking waist measurements makes far more sense than relying on BMI.
Cardiology groups, including ours, are increasingly partnering with diabetes and weight management specialists to set up GLP-1 mimetic clinics. These clinics oversee VAT loss and improve glycaemic control for patients with diverse cardiac conditions. The goal is not only to help these patients manage their symptoms but also to provide a holistic approach to cardiovascular and metabolic health, with an emphasis on reducing the burden of visceral fat. Specialist clinics offer patients the chance to access personalised care that targets both fat loss and better glucose regulation, reducing the need for medications and potentially improving overall quality of life. In this blog and associated podcast and YouTube explainer, we set out some of the fundamental principles we care about.