Body-Mass Index A Poor Indicator of Health, Say Researchers
The new study showed South Asians have less space to store fat below the skin than white Caucasians.
A recent McMaster University study offers evidence that Body Mass Index (BMI) may be a misleading measure of health. Some ethnic groups are more likely to be adding dangerous visceral fat onto their internal organs when they gain weight, while others are adding more visible subcutaneous fat.
South Asians were found to be particularly more likely to add visceral fat, which can lead to coronary artery disease and metabolic disorders like diabetes. Study leader Dr. Sonia Anand said, “The new study showed South Asians have less space to store fat below the skin than white Caucasians. Their excess fat, therefore, overflows to ectopic compartments, in the abdomen and liver where it may affect function.”
“Visceral fat is associated with metabolic problems such as elevated glucose and abnormal lipids, which are risk factors which ultimately lead to coronary artery and other diseases,” say boomer generation health experts Dian Griesel, Ph.D., and Tom Griesel, authors of the new book TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust (April 2011, BSH).
In TurboCharged the Griesels say that BMI is not a good health indicator. “BMI will never give you the critical information you need about your body composition to be sure your weight and health goals are on track,” they write. “We suspect there are many skinny-looking yet dangerously fat people walking around with a greater risk of disease and a false sense of security based on a ‘healthy’ BMI number, including many Caucasians and others not observed in this study. You need to know your body composition and body fat percentage for a true indicator of your health. The better home body composition scales will not only show your current percentage of overall body fat but also give you an idea of how much visceral fat you have. It’s the fat you can’t see that will kill you.”
About TurboCharged:
TurboCharged® is a groundbreaking 8-Step program that defies common weight-loss theories. It successfully delivers body-defining rapid fat loss, accelerates metabolism, and improves health and odds of longevity without gimmicks, supplements or special equipment. Common sense and a desire to be lean are all that is required for success at any age. For more information, log on to http://turbocharged.us.com/about-2/learn-more/. Please follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/turbochargedUS and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/diangriesel.
Janet Vasquez, Director of Corporate Communications
The Investor Relations Group
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jvasquez@Investorrelationsgroup.com
Business School of Happiness
Washington Depot, CT
http://www.businessschoolofhappiness.com
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