Puff people don't exercise, beware of invisible obesity

Many people monitor whether they are obese, mostly by measuring their weight and calculating their body mass index (BMI). Doctors point out that although this can already catch the vast majority of obese people, if they are those who do not exercise, even if their BMI value is within the standard, their body fat percentage may be over the standard. If these "invisible obese" people are not aware of it, over time they will also develop obesity complications similar to those caused by an overweight BMI.

If you are one of those people who doesn't exercise, even if your BMI is within the standard, be careful that your body fat percentage may be exceeded. (Photography by Huang Zhiwen)

Dr. Xiao Dunren, a hepatobiliary gastroenterologist who specializes in obesity medicine, said that the biggest problem of the "puff tribe" is that they do not exercise. Although their BMI is within the standard range, their weight is actually formed by excessive body fat and insufficient muscle mass. The flesh will dent when pressed lightly and lacks elasticity. Therefore, in order to avoid obesity, the body fat percentage must also meet the standard.

Body fat percentage is expressed as a percentage, which refers to the ratio of fat to body weight. Men over 25% and women over 30% are considered obese. The body fat percentage increases with aging, but it should not exceed this warning line. It is generally believed that the ideal body fat percentage for men under 30 years old is between 14~20%, and for women it is between 17~24%; the body fat percentage for men over 30 years old should be between 17~23%, and for women it should be between 20~27%.

Dr. Xiao Dunren said that body fat percentage can more accurately measure whether a person is obese or not, but there are some problems in measurement, such as using a dedicated body fat meter or a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for bone density measurement. Clinically, it has been found that body fat percentage and BMI have the strongest correlation, so BMI is often used as a standard for preventing and treating obesity.

Dr. Xiao Dunren pointed out that obesity can cause health hazards to the body. In addition to the problem of excessive body fat, the location of fat accumulation is also very important. Accumulation in the internal organs is more unhealthy than accumulation under the skin. Prevention still needs to start with diet and health. In terms of diet, the total calorie intake per day should be controlled, and eating too greasy and high-fat foods should be avoided. In addition, regular exercise and increased physical activity should be carried out to avoid the continuous accumulation of fat on the body.

Key numbers for obesity prevention:

• BMI value: The normal value for adults is between 18.5 and 24.

• Body fat percentage: less than 25% for men and less than 30% for women.

• Waist circumference: less than 90 cm for men and less than 80 cm for women.