Misshapen India: Hidden (“sick”) fat, wrong yardsticks, and a health crisis in plain sight
India faces a silent health crisis where invisible abdominal fat, not visible weight, poses significant risks. This 'high body fat, low muscle mass' phenotype leads to early onset of diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver, even in those appearing thin. Traditional BMI is insufficient; waist circumference is a crucial, low-cost indicator of this growing national health problem.
India faces a silent health crisis where invisible abdominal fat, not visible weight, poses significant risks. This 'high body fat, low muscle mass' phenotype leads to early onset of diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver, even in those appearing thin. Traditional BMI is insufficient; waist circumference is a crucial, low-cost indicator of this growing national health problem.
