There are many weight loss tips on the internet. People are bombarded by natural ways to get slim, taking pills to get slim and exercising to get slim. However, after getting slim are you really healthy? You can be known as ‘skinny-fat’ which means you may look healthy but you are suffering from illnesses, like heart disease, just like a person who is obese. There are factors that you can look for to determine if you fall into the ‘skinny-fat’ category.
Possible ill health in skinny people
Too much fat around your midsection: Scientists say that visceral fat stored around your midsection can be particularly dangerous.
According to Diabetes UK Community, that type of fat is stored around a number of important internal organs, within the abdominal cavity. Too much of it is a marker for heart disease. The Journal of American Medical Association recently published a study that said one out of four people who are considered in the “normal weight” category are in a pre-diabetic state. Even more shocking was that skinny people who were diagnosed with diabetes doubled in terms of their risk of death.
Family History: Scientists state looking at your family history is important. Have there been people in your family who appeared to be healthy and then ‘suddenly’ started to suffer from heart disease or high blood pressure?
This, they said can be an indicator of your future. Be sure to monitor your health.
Insulin resistance: Carefully observe your skin for any dark areas, particularly in your armpits, groin, and neck. Some Signs of diabetes are urinating frequently and fatigue. Do you constantly experience those symptoms? Monitoring your health regularly is very important and should not be taken for granted.
Things you can do to improve your health
Exercise: You should mix the type of exercise you engage in. Experts say to avoid just focusing on cardio. Instead, ensure you engage in resistance training and you can gradually increase your weights.
Body composition: You may be exercising and wondering why your weight has not decreased but muscle weighs a lot.
So focus on your body composition (percentages of fat, bone, water and muscle) to monitor your progress.
White foods: Avoid the consumption of too much ‘white foods’ like sugar, rice, flour and cereal. If you must consume them, do so in moderation. You can also consume fruit more regularly.
Sleep: Get at least eight hours of sleep per night. It will aid with tissue repair and it is also good for your heart and weight. The director of sleep medicine Raymonde Jean, MD, who is also an integral part of critical care at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City said, "If you sleep better, you can certainly live better.”
How you look does not always determine whether or not you are in perfect health. In order to positively impact your health and wellness you have to focus on what is going on inside your body. In many cases what you put in will be reflected in your daily life and your life span.
