Providing independent clinical excellence since 2005
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.
Whether you are diabetic or simply health-conscious, understanding how to interpret CGM data can significantly enhance your approach to diet and lifestyle management. By recognising your body's unique responses to different foods and activities, you can make informed decisions that promote better metabolic health and overall well-being.
Measuring your waist isn’t about shape or clothing size. It’s a simple health check that reflects harmful visceral fat around the organs. Measuring the narrowest point can miss risk. For meaningful results, waist must be measured at a fixed anatomical point and tracked consistently over time.
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 […]
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.
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.
The most effective path to reducing visceral fat without medication is not just to “eat less.” It’s to build more muscle, eat smarter, and track your progress. In this blog, which also forms one of the chapters of an ebook, I outline the programme and tools our patients use in our cardiometabolic clinic.
At Surrey Cardiovascular Clinic, we have seen a pattern: some people whose blood sugar (HbA₁c) is technically “normal” are quietly drifting towards diabetes. Their blood tests look fine — but their day-to-day glucose readings tell another story.
At Surrey Cardiovascular Clinic, we move beyond detecting risk to delivering a tiered, personalised framework for metabolic and cardiovascular prevention. Using real-time tools like CGM, the DoctorShape app, imaging, and nurse-led coaching, we help patients reduce visceral adipose tissue, improve insulin sensitivity, and restore metabolic health through lifestyle-first, data-guided care.
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?
Dietary fats have been wrongly maligned for much of modern nutritional history. But as the science evolves, it's clear that fat – far from being harmful – is a vital macronutrient that supports energy metabolism, hormonal health, brain and heart function, and even weight control.Rather than fearing fat, we should focus on:Avoiding refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods. Prioritising whole food sources of fat, including nuts, seeds, dairy, eggs, fish, and healthy oils. Understanding individual needs, especially in those with insulin resistance or carbohydrate sensitivity. Viewing nutrition in context, rather than isolating single nutrients as heroes or villains.The time has come to move beyond fat-phobia and embrace a more nuanced, evidence-based approach to eating. In a balanced, whole-food diet, fat is not the problem — it’s part of the solution.
Emerging evidence shows that lifetime exposure to LDL cholesterol and high glucose variability are some of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk. Just as lung cancer risk is tied to pack-years of smoking, heart disease risk correlates with cumulative LDL levels and glucose metrics such as HbA1c over time.This is why some people in their 20s with risk factors (like diabetes or a family history of heart disease) are starting statin therapy preventatively. However, many are understandably hesitant to start medication so early. Lifestyle changes remain the cornerstone of early prevention.