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A growing body of evidence suggests that a slim physique doesn’t guarantee a healthy heart. New research indicates that visceral fat – dangerous fat stored around organs and in the liver – can quietly damage arteries and significantly increase the risk of stroke and heart disease, even in individuals who appear thin. The findings, published in Communications Medicine, are prompting a critical reevaluation of the body-mass index (BMI) as the sole indicator of obesity and overall health.
The Silent Danger of visceral Fat
Researchers at McMaster University in Canada, analyzing MRI scans and health data from over 33,000 adults in Canada and the United Kingdom, discovered a strong correlation between visceral fat accumulation and the thickening and clogging of the carotid arteries. These arteries are vital,supplying blood directly to the brain. Narrowing within these vessels is a major risk factor for stroke and can signal blockages in other critical circulatory systems, including those serving the heart.
“This study shows that even after accounting for customary cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure, visceral and liver fat still contribute to artery damage,” explained a co-lead author of the study from mcmaster University.The results, they added, serve as “a wake-up call for clinicians and the public alike.” Another co-lead author emphasized the need for more elegant assessments of fat distribution, moving beyond simple measurements of overall weight or waist size. A vascular medicine specialist highlighted that this type of fat is “metabolically active and dangerous-it is linked to inflammation and artery damage even in people who are not visibly overweight.”
Why BMI May Be Missing the Mark
Current health guidelines categorize a BMI of 18.5-25 as healthy, 25-29 as overweight, and 30 or above as obese. However, a recent proposal from 58 international specialists argues that BMI alone is an insufficient metric. They suggest incorporating waist circumference and weight-to-height ratio to provide a more accurate assessment of unhealthy fat distribution.
Analysis of data from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, encompassing over 300,000 American adults, revealed that applying these new criteria could classify nearly 60% more people as obese. Even individuals with a “healthy” BMI but elevated waist circumference or weight-to-height ratio exhibited significantly higher risks of organ dysfunction, diabetes, and a more than threefold increase in the likelihood of organ damage.The research also indicated that nearly 80% of participants aged 70 or older would be classified as obese under the revised system – double the current rate – suggesting that traditional BMI measures may underestimate health risks in older adults.
Experts are increasingly advocating for the use of imaging-based methods to identify dangerous fat deposits and develop personalized prevention strategies. These findings coincide with new initiatives in the UK aimed at tackling obesity, including restrictions on promotional offers for sugary snacks, limitations on junk food advertising, and the curtailment of free refills of sugary drinks in restaurants.
Visceral fat
