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If have been told your weight is high but your blood tests are “fine”, or if you are living with breathlessness or atrial fibrillation, you may be wondering how your body fat is really affecting your heart and lungs.
Carbohydrate Sensitive Phenotype (CSP) is not a diagnosis of diabetes or obesity. Rather, it’s a biologically driven pattern of visceral fat accumulation and carbohydrate intolerance which is highly prevalent in those with a raised waist-to-height ratio (WHtR > 0.5), triggered by aging, Western-style diet and lifestyle. More importantly, CSP gives individuals a name for their experience—one that invites support instead of judgement, and allows them to engage with food and health choices free from social shame.
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.
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.
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 […]
This blog explores how individuals can conduct their own experiments to maintain a steady blood glucose and avoid potentially unhealthy glucose spikes above 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL).
In this guide, we will explore a multifaceted approach involving increased physical activity, dietary modifications, and consistent monitoring to effectively lose fat and enhance overall health.