You may look slim, but be fat inside

Internal fat can lead to all kinds of health problems

While some people might not be considered fat based on their appearance, they could be just that on the inside.
.
Researchers from London's Imperial College studied 800 people over 13 years and found that those who stayed slim through dieting rather than exercising are likely to have more deposits of internal fat.
.
Internal, or visceral, fat refers to fat found around organs such as the intestines, as opposed to external, or subcutaneous, fat that lies just beneath the skin.
.
"Visceral fat is dangerous, as the fat cells are metabolically active," said Dr Chionh Siok Bee, senior consultant at the National University Hospital's (NUH) endocrinology division in the Department of Medicine.
.
"This, however, does not mean that the fat is metabolised or burnt off fast. On the contrary, these fat cells produce dangerous hormones that predisposes one to a clogging of the arteries," she added.
.
Hence, it is not only the fat that shows up on the outside, but also the fat that resides within us, that we should be wary of.
.
Dr Yong Quek Wei, senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Department of Cardiology, explained: "People with too much internal body fat are at a higher risk of developing health problems such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis and certain forms of cancer."
.
While one's genetic make-up is responsible for between 30 and 60 per cent of the visceral fat in the body, diet also plays a part.
.
If more calories in our diet are derived from fats — especially fats found in foods such as butter and meat — we are more likely to have visceral fat.
.
Dr Yong said: "Gram for gram, fat contains twice as many calories as carbohydrates like bread or vegetables. Nutritionists recommend that no more than 30 per cent of our daily calorie intake should come from fats by the time a child is five years of age."
.
Lead researcher Dr Jimmy Bell highlighted that people with high amounts of internal fat could be on the verge of becoming obese, while fat, active people could be healthier than thin individuals who are sedentary.
.
Exercise is an important tool in helping to burn off visceral fat in the body. Dr Stanley Liew, consultant endocrinologist at Raffles Hospital, said: "Studies have shown that visceral fat accumulates rapidly when a person leads a sedentary life-style, even though his or her body weight may not increase by much. The good news is when one starts to exercise, visceral fat is the first type of fat to go."
.
Dr Bell concluded: "If you want to look thin, then dieting may be enough.
.
"But if you want to actually be healthy, then exercise has to be an important component of your lifestyle."

By Joanne Yap of Today (Singapore) newspaper dated 24 July 2007