We have all seen people who look healthy, lean and mean. Your eyes may be deceiving you. When in fact they may be skinny fat or normal-weight-obese. Up to one-fourth of normal weight people are affected. However, it is more noticeable in women, than men. Yes, men are also prone to the skinny fat or normal-weight-obesity phenomena. A great indicator is puffy, mushy, saggy skin in the midsection, on the thighs, buttocks, and back fat; but they look health and attractive!!!! However, this type of fat causes a lot of problem because it is internal and surrounding organs (visceral fat) and not visibly seen like subcutaneous fat which lays under the skin and seen as cellulite. Skinny fat or normal-weight-obese people experience:
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Stroke
- High cholesterol
- Insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes
- Lower bone mineral density
- Loss of cognitive function
- High blood pressure
- high inflammation levels
Now that I have mentioned it, you’ll be more consciously aware of normal-weight obesity or skinny fat in others as well as yourself. Take a private look in the mirror at your naked self. Look for love handles, fatty thighs and legs, flabby un-toned arms, sagging skin and puffiness. If you are lean and healthy looking you may not be due to the visceral fat surrounding the organs. Make sure to consult a medical professional for a thorough check of your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, Type 2 diabetes, and skin that feels sore due to stretching to accommodate the extra bulging fat!
Signs that you may be skinny fat or normal-weight-obese:
- Skin dimpling
- Cellulite
- Muffin top
- High Blood pressure
- Type 2 Diabetes
Other ways of identifying whether you are skinny fat:
- Calipers– Helps to determine a person’s estimated visceral fat storage around the organs (may not be the most accurate)
- BIA Devices– Scales that measures the body composition by using small electric currents. (must use with a full body scale for accuracy)
- Clinical test– most accurate way to test body composition (may also be the most difficult to access expensive, possible potentially harmful radiation)
Next: How to change from skinny fat to phat!
