We spend millions and millions of dollars on weight loss products each year, with 75% of saying it's because we want to be "skinny". But when it comes to being 'skinny', just how healthy is it?
One-in-four skinny people have pre-diabetes and are “metabolically obese”, making ‘skinny fat’ one of the fastest growing medical conditions according to Sheila Zhou, head of regulatory and technical at USANA Health Sciences. Also termed Metabolically Obese Normal Weight (MONW) it is used to describe a person who is in an ideal weight range but has more body fat than is healthy.
“Most people don’t realise that there can be health complications to being thin,” says Sheila.
“Being ‘skinny fat’ puts your body under a huge amount of pressure, including added fat around your organs, high cholesterol, and poor blood circulation. But there are simple ways to get your health back on track.”
Ms Zhou shares her expert tips for taking the fat out of ‘Skinny Fat’:
1. Put down the soft drink
It doesn’t sound like much, but saying goodbye to your favourite soft drink can help rid your body of dangerous toxins. The artificial sweeteners in soft drinks mess with your body’s chemicals and their processes, therefore altering your metabolism.
Even diet soft drink is just as bad for your health as fried food, so there is no escape!
2. Pump more iron
As ‘Skinny Fat’ is essentially too much fat and not enough muscle, weight training is an effective and simple solution. Strength training causes your body to keep the lean muscle, instead of using it as fuel. Weights also activate core muscles, which help organ function.
So, put your runners away and start on those reps.
3. Refuel your tank
Sound fishy? It’s not! Even though most of us think oily foods are unhealthy, it is actually the opposite. Omega-3 fat rich foods such as salmon and sardines are delicious ways to reduce blood pressure and stabilise cholesterol.
4. Put the kettle on
Stress is one of the main causes of ‘Skinny Fat’, but never fear, rather than quitting your job, the solution is as simple as drinking more tea! Research shows tea heightens emotions of relaxation, and lowers our levels of cortisol after a stressful task.
So swap the coffee for tea and you are already one step closer to being a picture of health!
5. Sleep away the cravings
Everyone loves sleep, but how many of us actually get the recommended 7 to 8 hours a night? If you ever needed an excuse, this is it. It’s been scientifically proven that sleep deprivation alters your metabolism and increases cravings for carbs and sugar.
So there’s no need to ever feel guilt about wanting an early night; you’re actually losing fat from it.
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