Diastasis Recti VS Visceral Fat | What's The Difference & How To Get Rid Of It

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Are you wondering what's the difference between diastasis recti and visceral fat? While both can cause a bulge in the abdomen, diastasis recti are the abdominal separation of muscles, while visceral fat is fat that accumulates around the internal organs.

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In this article, we will discuss their difference in depth and know how to get rid of them.

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What is diactasis recti?

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Diastasis recti is a condition in which the muscle on the abdominal wall separates which occurs when the band of connective tissue that joins the edges of the abdominal muscles (known as the linea alba) becomes stretched. This condition is very common during pregnancy when the growing uterus stretches the muscles in the abdomen.

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This can create a gap of several inches between the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscles. The gap is called diastasis and it can often appear as a cone shaped belly.

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What is visceral fat?

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Visceral fat is a type of body fat that is stored within the abdominal cavity and surrounds the abdominal organs and your abdominal wall. It is also sometimes called "organ fat" or "intra-abdominal fat."

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Visceral fat is different from subcutaneous fat, which is the fat that is stored just under the skin and is relatively easy to see and measure, visceral fat is deeper in the body and is surrounded by the body's organs. It is more difficult to measure and is not visible from the outside.

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How to identify the differences between diastasis recti and visceral fat?

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Diastasis recti is a condition in which the muscles in the abdomen separate, resulting in a gap between the left and right abdominal muscles. This gap can sometimes cause a bulge in the abdomen, which may be mistaken for excess belly fat. Visceral fat, on the other hand, is a type of fat that is stored within the abdominal cavity and surrounds the internal organs. It is not visible from the outside and cannot be felt by touch.

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One way to identify the difference between diastasis recti and visceral fat is by tensing your belly muscles, if you feel the gap is very pronounced then it's likely diastasis recti while if you feel the tensed muscles underneath your pooch, then you're probably dealing with visceral belly fat.

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It is generally advised to see a healthcare provider. A healthcare provider can examine the abdomen and determine whether diastasis recti or excess fat is present. In some cases, imaging tests such as an ultrasound or CT scan may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.