Weight Loss News

There’s a newly coined term floating around the fitness and weight loss community lately: skinny fat or normal weight obesity, have you heard of it? Sounds like an oxymoron right? Well, it’s not and it’s something to be aware of because it reiterates the importance of a healthy diet and exercise regimen. It also suggests that when evaluating your health, the number on the scale is no longer a valuable or reliable source. 

What is skinny fat?

Health experts have noticed a growing trend of people who appear skinny on the outside, yet have a very disproportionate percentage of body fat to lean body tissue on the inside. These individuals are most often people who maintain a strict diet (eat relatively well) but fail to exercise. There’s the key; someone who is skinny fat eats low fat / low calorie diet, looks thin and trim on the outside but they hardly ever exercise. These individuals do not have lean body tissue or muscle mass on the inside, and this is a serious health concern. 

On the flip side, you can also be skinny fat if you work out all the time yet eat poorly or drink high calorie beverages. These individuals think their workout gives them freedom to eat fatty foods that are, unfortunately, stored in their bodies. Fat stored around vital organs can eventually lead to diabetes and heart disease. The risk for these diseases is dramatically lowered when your body has a lower percentage of fat and a higher percentage of muscle.

It sounds like a funny term, but the serious risk for health problems is hardly a laughing matter. If you’re not eating the right foods, not exercising on a regular basis or both, you could fall into the skinny fat category. New research from the Mayo Clinic finds as many as 30 million Americans considered to be of normal weight actually have a high percentage of body fat that puts them at risk for health problems calling it "normal weight obesity." Because obesity is actually defined as having an excessive amount of body fat, you could have a low body weight yet be considered obese at the same time.

Are you skinny fat?

Many people calculate their body mass index (BMI) in order to determine whether they are in good health. Your BMI, however, only determines if you’re at a healthy weight for your height. In order to conclude if you’re in danger of normal weight obesity you need to measure your body fat percentage. For the most accurate body fat calculations speak to your doctor who can easily measure your body fat with calipers (a.k.a. "the pinch test").

Avoid skinny fat with exercise and a healthy diet.

It’s more important now, than ever, to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains AND to incorporate a fitness / work out regimen into your daily habits. Exercise is so very important because it increases your amount of lean muscle boosts your metabolism and strengthens your body to the core. Even 30 minutes of cardio (anything from walking, running to jumping rope) three times a week will help you tone up and crush your chances of being skinny fat.