In an era when health advice is shared as quickly as a meme and supplements line the shelves of every pharmacy, the pursuit of wellness has never felt more urgent—or more complicated. Recent warnings from leading doctors and new scientific studies have brought two pressing issues to the forefront: the hidden dangers of visceral fat and the risks of vitamin D overuse. Together, these stories offer a sobering reminder that what we eat, how we fast, and even the supplements we take can have profound effects on our bodies—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.
Visceral fat, that stubborn, deep abdominal fat which wraps around organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines, is not just a cosmetic concern. According to Dr Pradip Jamnadas, an interventional cardiologist speaking on The Diary Of A CEO’s Instagram channel, this type of fat is a silent but serious threat. "Visceral fat poses serious health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and fatty liver," Dr Jamnadas explained. The problem, he says, is rooted in our modern diets—especially the excessive intake of sugar.
Dr Jamnadas laid out the science in plain terms: eating glucose-rich foods triggers the pancreas to pump out insulin. When this happens repeatedly, insulin levels remain high, leading to a state called insulin resistance. In this state, the body needs even more insulin to keep blood sugar in check, and the liver starts converting excess glucose into fat. "Any hormone that stays in your body for a long time, the body becomes immune to it. So now you produce a whole bunch of insulin to bring that sugar down," Dr Jamnadas warned. The result? Fat gets stored not just under the skin, but deep inside the abdomen, wrapping organs and fueling inflammation.
Unlike subcutaneous fat, which sits just beneath the skin, visceral fat is insidious. It doesn’t always show up on the scale, but it can be seen in an expanding waistline and, more worryingly, in a higher risk of serious diseases. Over time, this hidden fat releases harmful compounds, disrupts hormones, and slows metabolism—setting the stage for a cascade of health problems, from fatty liver to full-blown diabetes and heart disease. As Dr Jamnadas put it, "This insulin-driven process forces the body to convert excess glucose into visceral fat, primarily around the pancreas and liver."
But there is hope. Dr Jamnadas points to fasting as a particularly effective strategy for tackling visceral fat. When you fast, insulin levels fall, and the body is forced to tap into its fat reserves for energy. "Fasting lowers insulin levels, allowing the body to burn stored fat for energy, targeting visceral fat particularly effectively after the first 12 hours of fasting," he explained. Unlike simple calorie cutting—which can slow metabolism and lead to muscle loss—fasting triggers the body to burn fat while preserving muscle.
The science backs this up. A study published in the NIH compared intermittent fasting combined with protein pacing to traditional calorie restriction. The results were striking: those in the intermittent fasting group lost 33% of their visceral fat mass, compared to just 14% in the calorie-restriction group, despite similar calorie intake and activity levels. That’s a sizable difference, and it underscores the unique metabolic benefits of fasting. Not only does fasting reduce abdominal fat, but it also lowers inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and fatty liver.
Dr Jamnadas is quick to note that fasting isn’t just about skipping meals—it’s about fundamentally changing how the body uses energy. "When you cut calories, your body senses a deficit and slows metabolism, losing both fat and muscle. Fasting, however, allows your body to pull energy from fat stores without significant muscle loss," he said. For those struggling with stubborn belly fat, this can be a game-changer, especially when paired with a balanced diet and lower sugar intake.
Yet, while some health trends like fasting gain scientific support, others come with hidden risks. On the other side of the wellness spectrum, the story of a 29-year-old woman’s brush with vitamin D toxicity has sent shockwaves through the medical community. Dr Obaid Rehman, a former Safdarjung Orthopedic doctor, took to Instagram to share her cautionary tale. "She was just 29. Bright, ambitious, the kind of person who looked like health itself. Gym five days a week, clean meals, and not a single bad habit. If you saw her, you’d think ‘this girl will live to 100’," Dr Rehman recalled.
But beneath her healthy exterior, something was terribly wrong. The woman began experiencing nausea, heart palpitations, exhaustion, and swelling in her legs and face. Initially, her family chalked it up to stress. But when she collapsed at work, a battery of tests revealed the truth: her kidneys were failing, her calcium levels were dangerously high, and her heart was unstable. The culprit? Cholecalciferol toxicity, a condition caused by excessive vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D toxicity, also known as hypervitaminosis D, is rare but potentially life-threatening. It occurs when too much vitamin D is taken—often through supplements—leading to dangerously high calcium levels (hypercalcemia). This can cause kidney failure, abnormal heart rhythms, confusion, and muscle weakness. According to Dr Rehman, "Vitamin D toxicity causes hypercalcemia which can lead to kidney failure, abnormal heart rhythm, unsteady gait, confusion, and muscle weakness."
What’s especially alarming is that toxicity can occur with doses as low as 2,000 IU per day in susceptible individuals. The recommended daily intake for adults ranges from 600 to 800 IU, with a maximum suggested dose of 4,000 IU. This young woman had been taking supplement pills without a prescription or monitoring her dose—a mistake that nearly cost her her life.
Treatment for vitamin D toxicity is urgent and multifaceted: all vitamin D and calcium supplements must be stopped, IV fluids are administered to correct dehydration, and medications like corticosteroids or bisphosphonates may be needed to block bone resorption. In severe cases, dialysis is required to remove excess calcium from the blood. The message from Dr Rehman is clear: “Don’t self-prescribe supplements. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.”
These two stories—one about the dangers of visceral fat and the benefits of fasting, the other about the risks of supplement overuse—are a reminder that health is a balancing act. The right interventions can transform lives, but shortcuts and overzealous self-treatment can be dangerous. As research continues to evolve, the best advice may still be the oldest: listen to your body, seek professional guidance, and remember that more is not always better.
