Last week I asked the question: Can you be considered obese if you have a normal body weight? As surprising as this may sound, you can have a normal weight, but actually have so much body fat that you're considered obese (a high body fat percentage-greater than 20 percent in males and 30 percent in females) - a situation known as normal weight obesity. And normal weight obesity means you may have the same serious health risks as does someone who is grossly obese. The real definition of obesity is excess body fat and this excess fat could be visceral fat that packs around your organs (the most dangerous fat). Unlike subcutaneous fat (fat found under the skin that is readily observable) this visceral fat is not observable except with MRI fat mapping.

Last week I also said I would cover why someone who is "normal weight" may need to go on a weight loss program. In last weeks article I stated that researchers at the Mayo Clinic in 2006 and 2007 studied 2,127 adults equally divided between men and women who had normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.) The participant's body composition was assessed, and their risk factors for metabolic and heart disease were collected by the U.S. government in its Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. From this data, researchers found that normal weight obesity appears to be highly prevalent, affecting more than half of patients with a normal weight as defined by the BMI (Body Mass Index.) And according to a new study of 100,000 people followed for nine years that appeared in Archives of Internal Medicine it was suggested that this is especially true in some adults over 50 years of age who gain belly fat while they lose muscle mass.

The BMI simply fails to distinguish fat from lean tissues such as muscle which weighs more than fat liter for liter. So, someone who is heavier may not be at risk at all, while someone who is considered normal weight may definitely be at risk. The StayHealthy BC-l is by far the most accurate way to assess total body fat short of the expensive and invasive Dexa scan and water emersion measurement.

Each of our weight loss patients have an initial bioimpedence measurement with our Stayhealthy BC-l and are retested every week. This may seem excessive but it allows us to know if they are losing muscle while losing weight. "Normal weight" people only need to lose fat as do overweight or obese people. But the real goal is to reset the pancreas which has become dysfunctional producing too much insulin resulting in excess fat and possibly other manifestations of the Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome "X."

For those of you who think you may be overweight or obese and therefore at risk - a measurement with a cloth tape around the abdomen will tell you - 35 inches for females and 40 inches for men (some men are at risk at 37-39 inches). But to be absolutely sure if you are at risk even if your weight would be considered "normal," come in for a BCl scan and a free consultation. For our next free class on the physiology of fat gain and loss and the Ideal Protein weight loss treatment, please call our office (208) 772-6015. Come on Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, let's shape up and get healthy together.