Where is the fat? That is the question
December 11, 2006
Most definitely, looks can be deceptive. Researchers at the West London Hammersmith Hospital have reported in a groundbreaking study that outward body fat might not be a good indicator of ideal health.
On the contrary the "bad" fat may exist in people who are externally thin but have "hidden" fat around the heart, pancreas or liver. A sophisticated MRI scan has been developed by the hospital locate this harmful fat.
The study has also revealed that body shape might be a better health indicator. For instance, people with 'apple' shaped bodies, with weight concentrated around their abdomen, may be at a higher risk of developing heart ailments and diabetics than those with weighty hips and thighs. Continuous dieting may even interfere with a body's mechanism to lay down fat and this may increase visceral fat-the fat around internal organs, the study said.
BMI
the most popular tool that health specialists use to
measure ideal height-weight measurements may also be
an inadequate tool the study said. Professor Jimmy Bell,
head of the molecular imaging group at the Medical Research
Council's center at Imperial College, clarified: "One
of the problems with BMI is it gives you the wrong idea
of how much fat you have."
"Someone can look really thin and have a normal BMI but have seven litres of fat inside them when they should ideally only have one litre" he added. He also warned that 40% of the population stored fat internally, placing them at terrible health risks.
Scientists have remarked that the findings underline
the need to be aware of one's internal fat and inculcate
a right combination of exercise
and diet to shift and combat it. As Mr. Bell said "The
important message is people shouldn't be happy just
because they look thin; it's not about looking fit or
looking thin, it's about being healthy."
Source from: http://www.earthtimes.org
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