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A doctor has claimed that the common idea of blitzing away our belly fat could be "all wrong". Dr Amir Khan, known for his regular appearances on ITV daytime programmes to discuss health news, claimed that people are often getting told "nonsense" about how to handle their 'stomach fat'.

He said: "Now, too often, weight advice is wrong [and] focused on all the wrong things. Trim down for the beach season ot show off those rock-hard abs - that's nonsense, of course.

"We should want to get healthy, not thin or ripped. Now, if you are carrying extra pounds around your midsection, know that losing belly fat is more than conforming to unattainable beauty standards, because the weight we carry in our abdomen can be a sign of health concerns that are more than skin deep."

The practising GP, who is a regular on shows like Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, said that everyone carries two different types of fat on their body. The first being subcutaneous, which sits just beneath the skin, and visceral fat - the kind that goes deeper.

Whilst most people would happily want to drop the fat that is on show, it's the one that runs much deeper that could play a major part in putting you at an increased risk of health conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia and more. The ITV regular claimed that both genetics and lifestyle choices play a role in how much of this deeper fat we carry day to day.

While the fat on the surface is mainly about how we look and can be pinched, the deep belly fat surrounds our internal organs and is active in our body. It releases substances that can raise the chances of getting serious, long-term diseases.

Visceral fat builds up when the calories you eat and drink aren't balanced by the energy your body uses, according to Chemist 4 U. Lifestyle factors, hormones, and genetics all play a role, too, which is why some people carry more abdominal fat than others even at a healthy weight.

Common causes of this type of fat include:

• poor diet
• lack of exercise
• high stress levels
• increased alcohol intake
• menopause
• genetics - body shape and metabolism are partly inherited

People can opt for medical tests to determine exactly how much visceral fat they carry. However, some at-home methods can also give a rough idea. Measure around your bare stomach, just above your hip bones.

Readings that come in over 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men signal an increased risk. People who look slim can still have high visceral fat levels - a body type sometimes called "TOFI" (thin outside, fat inside). That's why waist size and body composition are more reliable indicators of health risk than BMI alone.

There's no way to target visceral fat alone, but you can reduce it through overall weight loss, and Dr Khan claimed it is actually "easier to get rid of" visceral fat than surface fat.

He suggested in his video: "This is because [visceral fat] is metabolised quicker, and your body can get rid of it in things such as your sweat or even your pee. To help the process, think about doing a variety of exercises - things that get your heart rate pumping and build muscle."

The medic also advised that people should limit the amount of refined or added sugar they eat and aim to get more fibre and protein in their diet. He pointed out that getting at least seven hours of sleep a night might also make a difference, and minimising stress can prevent cortisol spikes, which can lead to the desire to eat more, and in turn create more visceral fat.

Visceral fat is more metabolically active and tends to respond quickly to lifestyle changes. Regular moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, is highly effective.