Fat on the inside? A blood test may someday tell you

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jul 11th 2007 9:00AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

A few months ago, Martha wrote about people who were "tofi" -- or thin on the outside but fat on the inside. The term describes a group of people who appear to be thin, but actually carry dangerous body fat around their internal organs. Because weight-related health is often assessed by measuring a person's waistline, this hidden fat can be easily missed. A CT scan can sometimes pick up the presence of the fat, but it's costly and who really wants to put themselves through an unnecessary procedure?

A new blood test may be in the works that can find hidden fat in lean patients. It screens people for a protein called RBP4, which is elevated in those who have a significant amount of abdominal fat. RBP4 has also been linked to pre-diabetes, and health experts believe that they can create a quick and inexpensive blood test to detect the protein in a patients blood. Will it someday become part of a routine screening? Who knows, but it's intriguing...especially for those who think they are at risk.

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Comments (26)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

a555bubs 7-16-2007 @ 9:21AM

OMG. I can't believe this. Another ploy to get us to OBSESS over weight. Now they're trying to get us normal weight or underweight people to "Worry" about being FAT!

Leave it alone already. Quit trying to make the whole world diet just because a few have a problem. Those who need help get it but let the rest of us enjoy ice cream, cake and real mayo on our sandwiches.

Crabby McSlacker 7-16-2007 @ 9:25AM

Very interesting, Bethany, thanks for catching this.

If it works, this sounds like a great new development--for those who are concerned and willing to change what they're doing.

But I wonder how many of the people who aren't eating healthy and exercising now, and aren't fat "on the outside," will actually follow through and make the hard changes they need to in order to be more healthy, if they're not bothering now?

But for those of us who are already health freaks, I suspect we'll all be lining up to make sure we're not somehow piling up sneaky abdominal fat.

(Crabby, when not making a pest of herself here, has a grumpy health blog of her own. Health Freaks, Food Freaks, and even those not so Freakish at all are welcome at http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/)

a 7-16-2007 @ 9:36AM

This isn't about making thin people worried about being fat, it's about warning them about potential health risks like diabetes. They are concerned about keeping people healthy, not dieting. And not just a few people have a problem. A majority of the United States is overweight, many are obese. Everyone, even thin people, should eat balanced meals and exercise.

SllimA 7-16-2007 @ 10:35AM

I think I will talk to my doctor about the test. I am a 5 foot tall, 95 pound, 30 yr old mother of 3. I eat what ever I want, when ever I want (or should I say when I get a chance) and now that I read this it has me concerned because I am no health freak at all. The only exercise I get is when I chase around my 3 boys ages 3, 6, & 9. I think this test is a good thing.

Mo 7-16-2007 @ 10:59AM

So you REALLY want to improve your health? Here are some PROVEN tips: avoid the following: Bovine Growth Hormone, aspartame, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, high sodium soups......all are DIRECTLY linked to cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. :)

Simone 7-16-2007 @ 11:08AM

This is great. As a former model, I will be thin for life but I used to crave Whoppers every other day along with other fast foods. I decided to get lip to get rid of my tiny little "pouch" and my sides. By the way Im 5'8, 130lbs. (Imagine 3 and a half 2 liter soda bottles)My surgeon told me he removed 7 liters of fat from me, which is what he typically removes from a OBESE person!! Needless to say the entire office was suprised as well. This is a great test and I support it all the way. Now not only do I look better, I am healthier too.

Dan 7-16-2007 @ 2:56PM

There actually may be something to this. It really makes me think about myself as a thin person who has gained a few pounds since turning 40 last year and also has two siblings that are quite overweight. If a simple blood test can actually link any potential problems I would believe it would be worth it. I won't live forever, but I could definitely add years to my life where I could otherwise be killing myself from the inside out.

damnitallover 7-16-2007 @ 3:00PM

I just finished an anatomy class and while dissecting the cadaver, it is plain to see how important this is to learn about. It is a curtain of fat that pads and protects the abdominal organs called epiploon, or greater omentum and if thin people only diet instead of diet plus EXERCISE this is probably going to grow and grow. This will interfere with all sorts of goings on, inside the abdominal cavity, and so this test could very well be a life saver.

nic 7-16-2007 @ 3:29PM

another excuse to sell something and generate business for doctors
like all the 'cholesterol' for your heart nonsense. 50% of people w/ heart disease have normal chiolesterol. how much does a high cholesterol increase your chances for heart disease, atherosclerosis? 1.0. That is, it doesn't.

You look at LDL, VLDL, and Lp(a), and blood pressure and high glucose for real indicators. All the cholesterol for your heart, heart healthy foods being pushed are a marketing ploy and this will just be another one.

glttrdst 7-16-2007 @ 3:41PM

Honestly a555bubs I don't think it has to do with loosing weight. I weigh 94 pounds I am 5 feet tall and 37 years old. I have the cholesterol level of someone that is obesely overweight. I do not take this cholesterol in through food but my body produces it on it's own (thanks mom!) it is generic and if I didn't get a test for it and put on medication I would be dead of a heart attack within 15 years. by the way I still have my cake and eat it too.

danny 7-16-2007 @ 3:48PM

this is great to know. i am male, 14, and in good shape. this same subject has been on aol news several times before and if sounds like new light is being shed on this subject recently. it sounds resonable that even if we dont look fat we can have toxic fats inside of us. so, any girls out there not eating well, this'll give you something to think about. even if you look and feel healthy, you need to excercise and eat well to verify this. yeah, ok, im done now

- 7-17-2007 @ 9:52AM

As a skinny person, I found this interesting. I am still in high school, but am interested in the medical field. This test will probably be used more often, but i dont think it is totally necessary. From what I know, your cholesterol chould give you an idea if this test is neccessary. a555bubbs is also right. This could just be an overreaction and be obselete. I will definetly look for this in future articles.

M. Narby 7-16-2007 @ 3:59PM

Who is MARTHA???

If it's Marsha Stewart of the super-housekeeping and supposed hostess and cook. . . I want her for a role model like I want to drown in carmel muffins. . . etc.

seventeen percent 7-16-2007 @ 4:28PM

Hmmm... i love the "it will never happen to me". Skinny(5'2 115-125) lbs . No history of diabetes in the family. No risk factors. Little teeny beer belly(but not from beer) and thin elsewhere. Imagine my shock when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes out of the blue. A year later told I was misdiagnosed and I have tupe 1.5 or LADA- adult onset type1. Apparently 17% of adults are misdiagnosed. I got this while being raised on brown rice, wheat pasta, fresh fruit and veggies, low fat NOT fast food and ice cream. So.... go ahead... fill your body full of fat and toxins and blame society for being weight obsessed. Fat in the body is a health issue... not a vanity issue.

looksbooks54 7-16-2007 @ 4:31PM

I have eaten high fat diets and no fat around my heart, as noted in a recent heart test. The brainiacs still can't figure out the relation between diet and lean tissue. They should read Life without Bread by Wolfgang Lutz.
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http://www.kimkins.com/329.html

nic 7-16-2007 @ 4:46PM

every time i see a new article like this, it feels like - not a scam- but pushing a mostly unnecessary test on people to generate business and doctor's visits, along with improving the stock of those hawking cholesterol lowering meds, and 'heart healthy', low cholesterol foods. hint hint- its not about cholesterol, 50% of those having heart attacks, atherosclerosis have low-normal cholesterol levels. high cholesterol increases risk 1.0, i.e. it doesn't.

so, all the hawking of those things for cholesterol is crying wolf. and the more you scream about something and are wrong, the less people listen. remember acrylimide laden deadly fries, chips etc. don't hear 'bout that much.

for heart disease look at LDL, VLDL, Lp(a), high blood pressure and high glucose levels. what % of people are 'tofis'?

to be healthy, eat balanced, excercise and use your own better judgement and some common sense. one big mack ain't gonna kill you. Fat on inside or outside.

Raven 7-16-2007 @ 5:03PM

This isn't new news. I've known about this for at least a decade. Most women prob. don't have to worry about this, but for men? Perhaps.

Have you ever seen a skinny guy that has a "skinny" belly that sticks out? Or traditional beer bellies that are hard as a rock? If your belly is hard as a rock that means you have bad fat; organ fat. Those are fatty enlarged organs that are pushing the abdominal cavity out. If it's soft, jiggly surface fat, it's fine and doesn't pose a health risk. If it's hard, you need to change your lifestyle.

lwheavenlyangel 7-16-2007 @ 5:51PM

I hope that someday a blood test will be able to determine if you are fat on the inside. 'm 40 years old. I'm 4 ft. 11 inches and weigh approximately 97 lbs. Two years ago, I had two heart attacks within a week of each other.

I have always been healthy. Doctors have been amazed. I didn't have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or clots...always ate healthy and did moderate excerising. Nothing too strenuous because I had nothing to lose. I don't drink, nor smoke...So this test will be very relevant for me in the future...

kt 7-16-2007 @ 6:40PM

I think that this is a very valuable test. Skinny people who eat donuts and Mickey D's every day are worse off than fat people who are athletes. Look at someone like C.C. Sabathia (hotshot baseball player). He's doing all kinds of exercise every day and he's healthier than all the models who sit and do nothing while their hearts get fatty. MODERATION IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING!!! Down with trans fat!

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