Health Risks of “Skinny Fat”

A health blog post by Ronesh (Ron) Sinha, M.D., Palo Alto Medical Foundation Internal Medicine, asks an unusual question: could you be “skinny fat?”

Dr. Sinha, who works closely with the South Asian community to help reduce heart disease and diabetes risk, says that a significant number of South Asians are in fact, “fatter” than they think.

“When I say someone is fat, I don’t mean it in a derogatory way,” Dr. Sinha says. “I define ‘fat’ as someone who carries excess adipose tissue (scientific term for fat) that may be visible or invisible, but is enough to cause metabolic changes that increase the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Individuals who do not appear fat on the outside, but show internal biological signs of carrying dangerous amounts of excess fat tissue, are casually termed ‘skinny fat.’”

In his health blog, Dr. Sinha explains that the more recently used medical acronym for skinny fat is MONW (Metabolically Obese Normal Weight). Basically, this refers to having too much fat and too little muscle. He urges people to keep in mind that “skinny fat” is becoming common in all ethnic groups, so it is important for everyone to be aware of this, but this is more prevalent in Asians.

Read more in his blog “Health Risks of ‘Skinny Fat’” on the Palo Alto Medical Foundation health blog, in which Dr. Sinha describes the symptoms and risks of “skinny fat,” as well as what kinds of exercises are best for improving cardiac health, endurance and strength. He even has a short video on cross training.

If you show signs of being “skinny fat,” Dr. Sinha recommends that you work closely with your doctor to reduce your risks. You may also benefit from a referral to see a PAMF nutritionist or a PAMF South Asian Health expert.