The Rise Of “Invisible Obesity”: What CT And MRI Scans Show That BMI Cannot

Despite all the fervor surrounding health and wellness these days, there are still pervasive issues facing many people that most of the population is unaware of. Even health experts neglect to focus on these issues that can quietly go unnoticed. One of them is a phenomenon known as “invisible obesity” (otherwise known as “normal weight obesity”), and it poses a greater danger than many people realize.

In short, people with invisible obesity are those who technically have an acceptable Body Mass Index (BMI), but who have disproportionately high levels of fat compared to their muscle mass. In particular, people who have invisible obesity tend to have high levels of visceral fat. Regardless of your weight or physical composition, it is a good idea to invest in a calories tracker. Being aware of the total number of calories that you consume on a daily basis can help you plan meals, limit portion sizes, and be more conscious of what you eat overall.

Why is invisible obesity an issue?

Many people might understandably wonder why something like this is considered a major issue. It is ok to have some body fat, of course. But invisible obesity can actually cause serious health problems due to major inflammation risks. This can include:

Problems with insulin resistance, which can ultimately lead to Type 2 diabetes.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is one of the fastest-rising health problems in the country.
Coronary heart disease, hypertension, and other cardiovascular issues.

Basically, all of the major health risks that aging people try to ward off can still be caused by invisible obesity. It can easily be caused by the type of lifestyle that many people today have: lack of physical activity, poor diet, excessive screen time versus being outside and moving around, stress, and other factors.

Why BMI tests typically fail

Let’s take a closer look at why BMI tests often fail to detect this type of fat.

The primary issue with BMI tests is that they were designed simply to create a generally acceptable number among whole populations. They only take two primary factors into consideration: height and weight.

The fact that they do not distinguish between muscle tissue and fat tissue. If one were to look only at BMI numbers, many top-level athletes could be considered dangerously obese because of their muscle mass. Similarly, relatively thin people with little muscle and comparatively high fat can be considered healthy.
The inability to detect visceral fat. Visceral fat is particularly dangerous as it covers the organs in the area of the belly, which can lead to inflammation and eventually, chronic diseases.
The presence of ectopic fat. Ectopic fat is fat that builds up in unusual places, such as the liver or within skeletal muscles. These fat deposits can be indicators of metabolic diseases and require early detection to be treated adequately.

Why CT and MRI scans are superior

CT and MRI scans are necessary to detect invisible obesity because they address all of the issues mentioned above. Specifically:

The presence of visceral fat. With CT and MRI scans, visceral fat that surrounds internal organs is clear.
Myosteatosis. Myosteatosis is a term that refers to muscle fat. When fat stars to infiltrate muscle tissue, it can be difficult to detect. But CT and MRI scans use a combination of rotating X-rays, data collection, and image reconstruction to detect many types of buildups that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Sarcopenia. Similarly, these instruments can illustrate clearly where muscles are starting to deplete, instructing people on which muscles to target in their exercises to maintain previous strength levels.
Fat distribution. Fat deposits can build up in different places, and in certain cases, the buildup can be in dangerous quantities in places where it shouldn’t be. With CT and MRI scans, people can see these deposits clearly, which helps them determine how to target the problems.

An important first step

Knowing your BMI is certainly important. But it shouldn’t act alone, particularly if you are older or are already suffering health problems. Knowing in detail the amount of fat you have in your body, where it is located, and what your fat-to-muscle ratio is can be critical to living a healthy life and warding off chronic diseases before it is too late.

When you do determine the specifics of your fat and muscle masses, you can start working on adjusting them to obtain optimal health. Visceral fat can be targeted by making important dietary changes, such as cutting out sugar and alcohol, exercising more, and trying to improve sleep habits. Muscle mass can be increased by adding more strength exercises to an exercise regime and prioritizing protein over carbs and junk food.

Get tested today

Getting a CT or an MRI scan is very easy. It only takes about five to ten minutes, and the results could really change your life. Although you do have to get a doctor’s referral, most doctors will happily give you one if you explain that you simply want to gain a better understanding of your body and the nutritional and exercise needs that you have. Once you have the results, you can start on a whole new course towards health and vitality.