05/05/2022
"Historically, we’ve used the Body Mass Index, or BMI, to determine body fatness. It is calculated using a person’s height and weight.
Research here at UT Southwestern and other institutions suggests it may be more important to examine a person’s “fat distribution profile.” Where is the fat accumulating in the person’s body? What risks does that present?
Although obesity rates in the United States have stabilized somewhat in recent years after decades of increase, belly fat is becoming more common among U.S. adults.
Belly fat is the most dangerous kind of fat because when it develops in the abdominal region and can surround internal organs. Research at UT Southwestern, which was led by my former colleague Dr. Ian Neeland, has shown that this kind of fat puts people at greater risk for developing several kinds of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, liver problems, some types of cancer, and risk for sudden death.
On the other hand, fat that accumulates in the hips and buttocks may not only be less harmful but may actually protect against these medical problems.
In other words, two people who weigh the same could have dramatically different risks of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes, depending on where fat is deposited in their bodies.
We’re not sure why belly fat is increasing, but we know people in the United States have become less active over the past several decades. Portion sizes at restaurants also have gotten larger. People seem to have less free time in their lives, and they are resorting to processed foods and fast food more often.
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