Mounjaro and belly fat: tips for losing visceral fat on Mounjaro
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Mounjaro helps burn 'hidden' visceral belly fat. Learn why and get tips on how to achieve even better results.
If you're using Mounjaro injections for weight loss – or you're interested in starting treatment – you're probably already aware of the drug's many benefits.
Mounjaro slows digestion. It makes us feel full for longer and reduces food cravings. It helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body. And when you take a the drug for 12 months along with diet and exercise changes, it causes an average weight loss of 21%.
However, these are just the headlines. Sure – Mounjaro is great for making those scales tick down. But its benefits run much deeper than that.
For instance, did you know Mounjaro is particularly effective at burning visceral fat – the 'hidden' abdominal fat that surrounds our internal organs?
It's true. It's proven. And it's good news for our health.
Let's find out why.
What is visceral fat?
Visceral fat is a type of belly fat. But it's not the fat you might feel if you pinch your stomach. That's subcutaneous fat – the layer of fat just beneath your skin.
Visceral fat is found much deeper within the abdomen, where it surrounds and cushions internal organs like the stomach, liver and intestines.
You can't see or feel visceral fat. It's too deep within the body. That's why it's often known as 'hidden fat'.
It's also sometimes called 'active fat' because it plays an active role in how the body works.
| Visceral fat | Subcutaneous fat |
|---|---|
| Found deep within the abdomen, where it surrounds vital organs | Found just beneath the skin all over the body |
| Can't be seen or felt | Is visible and can be pinched between the fingers |
| Plays an active role in how the body works | Is mostly used as an energy reserve |
Why is visceral fat bad?
We all need a little bit of visceral fat. That's because it helps protect many of our vital organs and plays a role in important bodily functions.
However, having too much visceral fat may be very harmful. Excess visceral fat is more dangerous to the body than excess subcutaneous fat.
Visceral fat is linked to several serious health conditions and complications, including:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Liver problems
- Insulin resistance (which can lead to blood sugar complications)
- Certain types of cancer
- According to at least one study, dementia
Because you can't see or feel visceral fat, it's hard to know if you have too much of it. We do know that it's more likely if you have a 'pot belly' or an 'apple-shaped' body.
The best way to find out, however, is to visit your doctor. They can figure out how much visceral fat you have by measuring your total body fat percentage and doing some calculations.
How can Mounjaro help?
Mounjaro is particularly good at targeting visceral fat.
We know this because scientists have studied data from clinical trials examining Mounjaro's weight loss potential. In an analysis of the landmark SURMOUNT-1 study, researchers found that participants who took Mounjaro lost 40% of their visceral fat over 72 weeks.
That's a whole lot more than those who didn't take Mounjaro. In the control group, where participants only undertook lifestyle changes and used a placebo (dummy drug), the average visceral fat loss was 7.3%.
This may be thanks to Mounjaro's 'secret ingredient'. While similar injections, such as Wegovy, work by mimicking a natural hormone called 'GLP-1', Mounjaro also mimics a second hormone known as 'GIP'.
GIP plays a role in how the body regulates blood sugar. With more balanced blood sugar levels, our bodies are less likely to store excess fat – including visceral fat.
Mounjaro and belly fat: tips for losing visceral fat while taking Mounjaro
Mounjaro is clinically proven to be safe and effective when taken as a weight loss treatment. To get the best results, however, you must follow a medical weight loss plan that includes a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise.
The same goes for losing visceral fat. Mounjaro can help you burn hidden belly fat more quickly – but to maximise its effectiveness, you need to put in a bit of effort.
Here are a few lifestyle changes you can make to lose visceral fat on Mounjaro.
- Stay physically active: it's easier to burn visceral fat than subcutaneous fat, so regular exercise is a no-brainer. Moderate- or high-intensity aerobic exercise is especially effective at reducing visceral fat.
- Eat a healthy diet: switching to a healthy, balanced diet is essential for achieving safe and sustainable weight loss. If you're worried about visceral fat, take extra care to avoid foods that tend to cause belly fat accumulation. That includes simple carbohydrates like glucose and fructose, which are often found in fizzy drinks and processed foods.
- Get enough sleep: and by 'enough', we mean 'the right amount'. Getting too little sleep has been shown to increase visceral fat – but, in young adults at least, so has too much sleep.
- Stop smoking if you can: at least one study has shown that smokers tend to accumulate more abdominal fat than non-smokers. If you can't stop completely, try to cut down.
- Lose weight naturally: unfortunately, cosmetic procedures like liposuction can't get rid of visceral fat. However, by encouraging healthy, holistic weight loss and targeting visceral fat, Mounjaro can.
Are you interested in using Mounjaro weight loss injections? With SemaPen, you get tailored advice from real obesity specialists who want you to succeed. Learn more about our expert-led weight loss programmes.
Sources
1. Jastreboff, A.M. et al. (2022) "Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity" The New England Journal of Medicine, 387(3) https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
2. Xu, S. et al. (2024) "Association Between Body Composition Patterns, Cardiovascular Disease, and Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease in the UK Biobank" Neurology, 103(4) https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209659
3. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/992211
4. Vissers, D. et al. (2013) "The Effect of Exercise on Visceral Adipose Tissue in Overweight Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" PLOS One, 8(2) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056415
5. Giannos, P. et al. (2023) "Shorter sleep duration is associated with greater visceral fat mass in US adults: Findings from NHANES, 2011-2014" Sleep Medicine, 105:78-84 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.03.013
6. Hairston, K.G. et al. (2010) "Sleep Duration and Five-Year Abdominal Fat Accumulation in a Minority Cohort: The IRAS Family Study" Sleep, 33(3) https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/33.3.289
7. Kim, J.H. et al. (2012) "Cigarette Smoking Increases Abdominal and Visceral Obesity but Not Overall Fatness: An Observational Study" PLOS One, 7(9) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045815
This article was reviewed and approved by Alice Fletcher, Lead Bariatric Dietician, and Lujain Alhassan, Bariatric Nutritionist, on 20 May 2025.
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