“Thin outside, Fat inside” (TOFI)

I often hear people say “I can eat all I want and remain slim. It’s good genes” Such individuals who eat whatever they like (unhealthy food with little or no exercise) and don’t put on weight are often envied by people who easily put on weight or are overweight.

Thanks to the UK Medical Research Council, which has explained; that people who look slim and healthy may be collecting dangerous amounts of internal fat around their vital organs. It can be dangerous not to have an external regulator that shows; you’re gaining fat. MRI body scans carried out; show slim people with high levels of internal fat collecting around vital organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. These people are termed “skinny-fats” or “thin outside, fat inside” (TOFI), and are at health risk.

An obvious overweight person has subcutaneous fat which is located underneath the skin. It’s the fat; that you can physically grab (love handle). Subcutaneous fat can be gotten rid off by a combination of proper eating, weight training, and cardiovascular exercise. 

While a thin outside, fat inside (TOFI) has the fat we can’t see; the fat that surrounds vital organs, called visceral fat; which lies underneath muscle tissue around the internal organs. This fat is metabolized by the liver, which transforms it into cholesterol-Cholesterol circulates in the blood and can collect in your arteries, creating heart disease and high blood pressure. It’s is believed that visceral fat produces more hormones and proteins than subcutaneous fat, affecting glucose levels and triggering the start of Type 2 diabetes and other serious health issues such as cardiovascular disease.

The Big question: If am skinny on the outside, how am I fat on the inside?

1. Lack of exercise
2. Your diet: Food high in saturated fat
3. High alcohol intake-Drinking and smoking

To be skinny inside and out, you must introduce some form of exercise, eat healthily, drink less alcohol and stop smoking.

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