(foodconsumer.org) -- Depression has been linked with the accumulation of visceral fat, the kind of fat that huddles between organs around the waistline and has long been known to increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, a recently released study has found.

While medical researchers have known for years that depression is linked with a risk of heart disease, that link has never been made clear. Researchers at Rush University in Chicago say the culprit is belly fat, which carves a pathway for depression. “Our results suggest that central adiposity — which is commonly called belly fat — is an important pathway by which depression contributes to the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” said Dr. Lynda Powell, the study’s principal investigator. “In our study, depressive symptoms were clearly related to deposits of visceral fat, which is the type of fat involved in disease.”

Powell said that depression triggers the accumulation of visceral fat by creating chemical changes in the body — like the production of cortisol and inflammatory compounds — but said more research is needed to pinpoint the exact mechanism.

The study focused on menopausal transition and included 409 middle-aged women. While half of the participants were African-American and half Caucasian, researchers said the findings were the same for all women. Depressive symptoms were assessed using a screening test, and visceral fat was measured with a CT scan.

Visceral fat is increasingly thought of as a dangerous fat because it actually surrounds organs such as the liver and kidneys. If it remains there too long it may increase blood sugar levels and cause chronic inflammation, both of which can lead to heart disease, diabetes and other health problems. Doctors can now spot this fat deep inside the stomach using MRIs and CT scans.

In a 2007 interview with a Chicago TV station, Dr. Powell said that while men have the slow-forming “potbellies” to warn of their visceral fat, it shows up more quickly in women. “What is so interesting about this is what takes men a lifetime to accumulate, women do in just the four short years of menopause,” she said. According to Powell, the increase of testosterone as women age, and also stress, may explain why visceral fat turns up later in life.

In the past, visceral fat was measured by waist size, but that is no longer considered accurate since that measure includes the subcutaneous fat. Subcutaneous fat is the fat deposited just beneath the skin, the kind you can pinch with your fingers.

Researchers found a strong link between depression and visceral fat, mainly among overweight and obese women. They said results were the same even when adjusted for variables, such as activity levels. Powell stated there is a simple solution to combat visceral fat. “I think the good news of this whole story is that the first fat to go as a result of physical activity is visceral fat,” she said in the television interview. Doctors say 30 minutes of physical activity can lower visceral fat levels. Losing even 5 to 10 pounds or trimming two inches from the waist can also help.

Depression Signs

The American Psychiatric Association says depression is diagnosed when five or more of the following symptoms are present for at least two weeks: Constant sadness, irritability, hopelessness, trouble sleeping, low energy, feeling worthless or guilty for no reason, significant weight change, difficulty concentrating and loss of interest in favorite activities.