Skinny fat Asians? Blame the dumpling diet

You’ve probably heard of the term “skinny fat”, but what does it really mean and can you really look slim but be obese?

According to a study (for fitness nerds, it’s Maturitas, April 2010, volume 65, issue 4, pages 315-319, on ethnic differences in body composition and the associated metabolic profile: A comparative study between Asians and Caucasians), this development in Asia is happening faster, in a younger age group and in people with a lower body mass index (BMI).

Since BMI only takes into account a person’s height and weight, it can incorrectly categorise a muscular person as overweight or obese, or a person holding excessive body fat as normal.

The term “skinny fat” usually refers to a lack of muscle on arms and legs, often accompanied by a protruding belly. Although the average Asian person may appear slim at first glance, they could potentially be carrying too much fat and inadequate lean mass, which is mainly skeletal muscle.   Several studies have found that Asians tend to have more body fat, especially abdominal fat, and less lean mass than their western counterparts with a similar BMI.

The whole situation is not helped by the typical high-carb, low-protein Asian diet of noodles, rice and dumplings. A lifetime of this diet and a lack of exercise can hinder muscular development, and when combined with higher levels of body fat, there is an increased risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

To compound this issue, the abdominal fat that Asians tend to store is the more dangerous, inflammatory and hidden visceral fat. Metabolic testing of obesity related risk factors typically show that Asians have higher triglycerides, lower high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol) and show elevated signs of fatty liver and inflammatory markers than Caucasians with a similar BMI.