While someone with a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese, two persons with the same BMI might have quite different quantities of fat, and that fat can be distributed in various regions throughout the body.
Recent research reveals that lucky fat genes may help prevent obese persons from some ailments.
Fat deposited under the skin, such as a tummy or a double chin, is thought to be less hazardous than fat stored around organs such as the liver and heart.
According to studies, the genes that individuals are born with control how and where this fat is deposited.
Those who have the fortunate genes have their fat deposited beneath the skin rather than on their organs, which reduces the risk of several ailments.
Obesity Defined as Having a BMI Bigger than 30
However, two persons with the same BMI might have quite different quantities of fat, and that fat can be distributed differently throughout the body.
Scientists believe the study’s results might explain why some fat individuals stay relatively healthy while others suffer from life-altering illnesses such as heart disease.
Dr. Hanieh Yaghootkar, the lead researcher at Brunel University London, stated that some individuals have unlucky fat genes, which means they store more fat everywhere, including beneath the skin, liver, and pancreas. This is linked to an increased risk of illnesses like type 2 diabetes.
Others are more blessed, having genes that indicate increased fat beneath the skin but lower liver fat and a decreased risk of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes.
Thirty-seven disorders were examined as part of the research.
A total of 12 of them, including coronary artery disease and stroke, were discovered to be closely associated with the genes that govern where fat is deposited.
Nine of the disorders were shown to be unrelated to where a person’s fat is stored and was most likely the effect of just carrying too much weight.
These included deep vein thrombosis and arthritic knees.
Obesity Still Seen as a Health Risk by Many
However, experts continue to remind individuals that being obese is still a severe health risk – regardless of where the fat is stored.
It is anticipated that the research will assist physicians in identifying whether they should target the negative impacts of someone’s obesity or attempt to encourage them to lose a few pounds.
Timothy Frayling, a professor of human genetics at the University of Exeter, stated several therapies, for example, may decrease high-fat levels in the blood and surrounding organs without affecting the additional weight a person bears.
In contrast, it may be more necessary for some disorders to lose weight as much as, if not more than, the detrimental high sugar and fat levels in the blood, as Tymothy added.
The research, published in the journal eLife, gathered data from 500,000 people in the UK aged 37 to 73 between 2006 and 2010.
