‘Fatty marbling’ raises risk of heart failure regardless of weight

The study's author suggested that, unlike subcutaneous fat or fat stored under the skin, fat stored in the muscles may be contributing to inflammation and insulin resistance

Those with higher amounts of fat stored in their muscles were more likely to have coronary microvascular dysfunction, a condition that affects the small blood vessels in the heart. Picture: Alamy/PA

People with hidden pockets of fat in their muscles — similar to so-called marbling in beef — are at a higher risk of dying from heart attacks or heart failure regardless of their body weight, according to a study.

While “fatty marbling” — or flecks of fat running through meat — is commercially valued in livestock, in humans it has been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, researchers said.