In this month's Santé magazine, discover Esmir's real-life journey tackling her 'skinny fat' challenge. But what exactly does 'skinny fat' mean?
Slender doesn't always equal healthy. Even slim people can carry dangerous invisible fat inside—a condition experts call TOFI: Thin Outside, Fat Inside.
Ever envy someone who eats freely without gaining weight? There might be less to envy than you think. Excess fat isn't always visible on the scale or body. 'Skinny fat,' or TOFI, means you can be metabolically overweight internally, raising risks for high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes despite a slim frame.
Fat Around the Organs Professor Jimmy Bell at Imperial College London scanned 800 Brits via MRI and found many with normal BMI harbored significant visceral fat between organs. Unlike safer subcutaneous fat under the skin, visceral fat is more harmful. Sumo wrestlers, for instance, pack thick subcutaneous layers but minimal organ fat—despite 5,000 daily calories—explaining their surprisingly lower health risks.
Why is internal fat so dangerous? Research points to theories like its direct impact on the liver. Fat breaks down into the bloodstream; subcutaneous fat routes to heart and lungs, but visceral fat floods the liver, overwhelming it. Abdominal fat also releases inflammatory substances, disrupting immunity, hormones, and insulin sensitivity—paving the way for type 2 diabetes.
Are You Skinny Fat? It's invisible—no gym fat scale catches it. The best starting point? Waist circumference. Studies show same-BMI people vary: some store fat subcutaneously, others viscerally with larger waists. Risk thresholds: over 102 cm for men, 88 cm for women. A 'healthy' BMI isn't the full story.
Read Esmir's full story in the December issue of Santé.
