Nutritionists have often referred to the "apple" shape when describing dangerous obesity, but new research presented at the American College of Cardiology conference this past spring suggests that more than half of normal weight U.S. adults carry excess body fat, typically around the waist. These "fatty banana" types, were more than twice as likely as people with normal body fat percentages to have elevated cholesterol levels, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and inflammatory biomarkers.
In August 2008, the Archives of Internal Medicine printed a study showing that almost a quarter of adults classified at a healthy weight exhibit two or more of the above risk factors. They found fatty banana types were likely to have excess fat within the abdomen and liver, reduced amounts of lean tissue (including muscle) and impaired insulin function.
What's a fatty banana to do? Start moving and eat a little less! Even without weight loss, 30 minutes or more of daily moderate physical activity is linked with small but significant decreases in inflammatory markers and insulin resistance.
That's sage advice no matter what your shape!
Kim Dalzell, PhD, RD, LD
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