Many of us are quick to assume that ‘slim’ and ‘thin’ individuals are always healthy. Experts caution that this isn’t always the case, citing an invisible factor that is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
In a recent podcast episode with Professor Tim Spector and Dr. Suzanne Devkota, Jonathan Wolf, CEO of ZOE, discussed his personal health journey. The co-founder of the company explained that he had been told by others that he should probably “put some weight on” and that he had never really considered his body type.
However, a hospital visit revealed some “very bad news.” According to Professor Spector, he was referred to as “a toffee” because of his “thin on the outside and fat on the inside.”
“Thin on the outside, fat on the inside,” Professor Spector said in the January episode. In some ways, “Which a lot of people are. Because of this, they are unaware that they have poor metabolic health. “
To which, Jonathan chimed in: “… I know we’re going to talk a little bit about your own experiences, but actually, that had pushed me to eat this very classic Western diet, huge amounts of sort of refined carbohydrates. And I had assumed that it was not having any effect. “
Believe it or not, ‘TOFI’ – meaning Thin on the Outside, Fat on the Inside – is a real term used to describe people with a ‘normal’ BMI but higher-than-average levels of visceral fat. Instead of the more perceptive “subcutaneous fat” you might find on our arms and legs, this typically refers to the “invisible” fat around our internal organs.
As Professor Spector suggests, being TOFI is a significant indicator of ‘poor metabolic health’, or metabolic syndrome, which is generally defined by high blood pressure, high blood sugar and lower levels of the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. Unfortunately, many of these factors are associated with a higher risk of numerous serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
According to NHS guidance, “Metabolic syndrome is the name of a group of health issues that put you at risk for type 2 diabetes or other heart- or blood-vascular conditions.” It differs from metabolic disorders, which are uncommon genetic conditions.
“… It is linked to insulin resistance. When your body doesn’t properly process insulin, it causes this. It might also be related to having too much fat in your stomach. “
Numerous lifestyle choices can affect your risk of poor metabolic health, in addition to genetic factors. Lack of exercise, excessive alcohol intake and poor diet choices are among them, in addition to smoking cigarettes.
The NHS suggests the following advice to prevent poor metabolic health:
- Quit smoking
- Eat more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains
- Eat less saturated fats, meat and dairy products
- Lose weight if you’re overweight
- Do four to five days of moderate to vigorous exercise, alternating at least 150 minutes per week.
Its guidance adds: “You may not have any symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Following a blood test or physical examination, you typically learn if you have it. “
Source: Mirror
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