A Third of Normal Weight People Are Actually Obese

The paradox of obesity with normal weight: a cross-sectional study

main summary

“The paradox of obesity with normal weight; a cross-sectional study” – Frontiers in Nutrition.

Researchers from the TAU School of Medicine School of Public Health examined anthropometric data from approximately 3,000 Israeli women and men and concluded that percentage body fat is a much more reliable indicator of an individual’s general health and cardiometabolic risk than the BMI index, widely used in clinics today. The researchers suggest that body fat percentage should become the gold standard in this regard and recommend equipping clinics across Israel with appropriate devices.

The study, the largest of its kind ever conducted in Israel, was led by Professor Yftach Gepner and PhD student Yair Lahav, in collaboration with Aviv Kfir. It was based on data from the Yair Lahav Nutrition Center in Tel Aviv. The article was published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Professor Gepner:

“Israel is a leader in childhood obesity and more than 60% of the country’s adults define themselves as overweight. The predominant index in this regard is the BMI, based on measurements of weight and height, which is considered a standard indicator of an individual’s general health. However, despite the obvious intuitive connection between excess weight and obesity, the actual measure of obesity is body fat content, with upper normal values ​​set at 25% for men and 35% for women. Higher fat content is defines obesity and can cause a range of life-threatening cardiometabolic diseases: heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, kidney dysfunction, and more. The disparity between the two rates has generated a phenomenon called “the normal-weight obesity paradox”: a higher-than-normal percentage of body fat in normal-weight individuals. In this study, we examined the prevalence of this phenomenon in Israel’s adult population.”

The researchers analyzed anthropometric data on 3,000 Israeli women and men, accumulated over several years: BMI scores; DXA scans (using X-rays to measure body composition, including fat content); and cardiometabolic blood markers. Approximately one third of the participants, 1000 individuals, were found to be within the normal weight range. Of these, 38.5% of the women and 26.5% of the men were identified as “obese with normal weight”, that is, with excess fat despite their normal weight. By comparing the percentage of body fat to blood markers for each of these individuals, the study found a significant correlation between “normal-weight obesity” and high levels of sugar, fat and cholesterol, major risk factors for a variety of cardiometabolic diseases. At the same time, 30% of men and 10% of women identified as overweight were found to have a normal body fat percentage.

Professor Gepner:

“Our findings were somewhat alarming, indicating that normal-weight obesity is much more common in Israel than we had assumed. Furthermore, these people, being within the norm by the prevailing BMI index, often pass ‘under the radar.’ Unlike people who identify as overweight, they receive no treatment or instructions to change their nutrition or lifestyle, placing them at even greater risk of cardiometabolic disease.”

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that body fat percentage is a more reliable indicator of an individual’s overall health than BMI. Consequently, they suggest that body fat percentage should become the prevailing health standard and recommend some convenient and accessible tools for this purpose: skinfold measurements that estimate body fat based on the thickness of the fat layer under the skin; and an easy-to-use device that measures the body’s electrical conductivity, already in use at many fitness centers.

Professor Gepner:

“Our study found that normal-weight obesity is very common in Israel, far more than we had previously assumed, and that it is significantly correlated with substantial health risks. And yet, people who are ‘normal-weight obese’ are not identified by today’s predominant index, BMI. We also found that percentage body fat is a much more reliable indicator of a person’s overall health than BMI. We therefore recommend equipping all clinics with suitable devices to measure fat content. and gradually make it the gold standard both in Israel and throughout the world to prevent disease and premature mortality.”

Resources that provide relevant related information

Attribution/Source(s):

The editors of Disabled World selected this peer-reviewed nutrition and metabolism article related to our Fitness and Nutrition section because of its potential interest to readers in our community of people with disabilities. Although the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article “A third of people with normal weight are actually obese” was originally written by Tel-Aviv University and published by Disabled-World.com on 2023-07-14. If you require further information or clarification, you may contact Tel-Aviv University at ingles.tau.ac.il. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

Sponsored links

Disabled World is an independent disability community established in 2004 to bring disability news and information to people with disabilities, seniors, their families and/or carers. See our home page for informative news, reviews, sports, stories and how-tos. You can also connect with us at Twitter and Facebook or get more information on our about us page.

permanent link:
One third of normal weight people are actually obese

Cite this page (APA):
Tel Aviv University. (2023, July 14). One third of normal weight people are actually obese. disabled world. Retrieved on July 23, 2023 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/normal-weight.php