The amount and location of fat stores in the abdomen is more important than overall weight or total body fat in the development of diabetes and cholesterol problems. In general, fat can be stored in several areas in the abdomen: around the organs (visceral fat), under the skin (subcutaneous fat), and in the liver (liver fat). People with higher amounts of fat around the organs (visceral fat), even those with a normal weight, are more likely to become diabetic or have high cholesterol. The amount of fat in each of these areas can be measured with an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).