But what if health isn’t all about weight?
It is rubbish when our favourite clothes feel tight and uncomfortable. Identifying the reasons why this annoyance is occurring is 100% a worthwhile endeavour. It is usually the case that the same actions that help us feel comfortable in our clothes again, also help us to feel more energised, calmer, more focused, to sleep better and to be more resilient to life’s inevitable challenges. So far, so good. But it is possible to look “skinny” on the outside, but actually be “fat” on the inside. This state of play can lead to a wide range of health issues. Let’s dig deeper.
The Personal Fat Threshold Hypothesis
Professor Roy Taylor has conducted fascinating research around the “personal fat threshold” (most recently published in PMC10472166). In summary, his research shows that Type 2 diabetes is not caused by BMI. BMI means Body Mass Index and is calculated from height and weight. You can find the NHS BMI calculator at www.nhs.uk.
The personal fat threshold hypothesis explains how it is possible for someone with a normal BMI (so not classified as overweight or obese) to develop Type 2 diabetes. Simply stated, our ability to store fat safely varies between individuals. The “safe” fat is the subcutaneous fat, the fat under the skin which can be pinched. The “unsafe” fat is the visceral fat which is stored deep within our abdominal cavity and cannot be seen. Type 2 diabetes occurs when an individual of any BMI can no longer store their own fat safely. If our “safe” fat stores under the skin are full, the fat then accumulates in and around the liver and the pancreas which disrupts blood sugar control and can therefore lead to Type 2 diabetes.
Signs and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include:
peeing more than usual
feeling thirsty all the time
feeling very tired
losing weight without trying to
itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
blurred vision.
(Source: www.nhs.uk).
If you have any of these symptoms, please do ask your GP for a fasting blood glucose test.
What we eat matters
This is all grist to my mill: no matter how much we weigh what we eat really matters. Prioritising protein, fibre and healthy fats in our diet pays important dividends in terms of our health.
Perhaps knowing that size does not predict health might make it easier to focus on building strength, not weighing less. As one of my friends said recently “You don’t want to be the thinnest woman in the care home, but not able to get out of the chair to go to the loo”. To that I’d add not able to open a jar, not able to pick up your grandchildren, not able to climb the stairs to your own bed.
Eat for strength, eat for energy, eat for a calm mind. Eat as much as you personally need to feel great between meals, then stop.
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