Search This Blog

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Risk of Insulin Resistance Increases With Fat Build-Up

The fat build-up that they refer to here is the one on chest and upper back according to HIV Study. This study led by the San Francisco VA Medical Center says that fat build-up in this area is linked to an increased risk of insulin resistance.

They say that this is the very first time this relationship has been established. The lead author and researcher, Carl Grunfield, M.D., PhD, who is the chief of the metabolism and endocrine sections at the San Francisco VA Medical Center says that the association between visceral fat and insulin resistance risk has been studied before but nobody looked at the upper trunk fat.

We know that insulin is the hormone that controls the blood glucose levels so when the cells become resistant to the insulin action, the end result is high blood glucose which has bad effects on the body. Grunfeld further observes that people with lots of fat in the upper trunk and not much in the stomach are at risk to develop insulin resistance. But if you have both, he says the risk is rather high.

What is the implication of this study? So is this what causes diabetes? Over 3/4 of type 2 diabetics are obese or were obese at one time. But what is obesity anyway? Clinically speaking, anyone who has a body mass index of 30 or over is considered obese. How do you get your body mass index? Google those three words and you will be led to a chart.

The chart will help you determine what is the best weight for you. It takes into account the height and this helps give a good estimate of someone's body fat. Try to adhere as close as possible to the body mass index that is right for you. What am I saying? We should all do that because I myself have a hard time not trying everything at the buffet. Yup, the buffet is still my Waterloo.

1 comment:

Roevel said...

Thanks for the reference to google 'body mass index.' I will certainly do so.

BTW, buffet's aren't that terrific. Except maybe a 'Mandarin' in small town Ontario.

Roevel