So is it okay to be a little bit fat? The answer is probably yes: people with a BMI of 25 might view themselves as “a bit” fat, even though they are not overweight. But very high BMIs (and very low BMIs, below 18.5) are definitely unhealthy.
Researchers tracked the survival of an ethnically diverse group of around 500,000 US adults for up to 20 years and found that having a BMI between 25 and 29.9 — classified as 'overweight' — is associated with an 5–7% lower risk of death within the study period than having one in the 'healthy' range.
Having overweight — even carrying as little as 10 pounds of excess fat — can make a difference in your health. It can cause changes in your body that may lead to serious medical issues. It can affect your self-esteem. And having overweight increases the chance you'll develop obesity.
Surprise: Everyone has some belly fat, even people who have flat abs. That's normal. Fat is an essential part of the human body. But it's not all the same, and the amount and location of it in your body may affect your health.
Being overweight or obese can have a serious impact on health. Carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon).
A few people have high BMIs but don't have much body fat. Their muscle tissue pushes up their weight. Kahan points to very muscular people, like football players or body builders. “Their BMI shows up pretty high, and yet their body fat is actually pretty low," Kahan says.
Teens can have a high BMI if they have a large frame or a lot of muscle, not excess fat. And a person with a small frame may have a normal BMI but still can have too much body fat. Also, it's common for teens to gain weight quickly — and see their BMI go up — during puberty.
Fluffy Fat. "Fluffy fat is soft and jiggles easily. Female hormones tell our bodies to accumulate this kind of subcutaneous [below the skin, above the muscle] fat much more readily than men, and it's typically found on women's stomachs, hips, thighs, and/or backs of the arms," says Dr. Chasin.
There is no rule that says fat deposits in your stomach need to stay above or around your belly button. Although many do, some people hold excess fat low in their abdomen, creating the dreaded pooch. Developing a pooch is also a common side effect of perimenopause and menopause.
Equally unfortunate is the fact that cortisol belly doesn't have a specific appearance, despite what countless infographics on the internet will tell you. Cortisol belly simply looks like abdominal fat, and there is no way to identify it by appearance.
Plump: a little bit of fat but in a pleasing way, usually only describes women. Husky: a little bit of fat, more neutral when describing young men and boys, but when used for a woman, it implies strength like they are bigger because of muscles. Stocky: not necessarily fat. More like short and wide but strong looking.
Pear Shape
It's more common among women, and it may be part of the reason they often live longer than men. That could be because belly fat, more common in men, is linked to more health problems than lower-body fat. One study found that in some cases fat in the hips and thighs was linked to lower odds for some diseases.
“Being fit is always healthier for you, but it does not negate being overweight,” reiterates Dr. Cho. “You can't carry excess body weight without there being repercussions. Losing a few pounds can make a big difference for your long-term health.”
There are some genes associated with obesity and overweight. In some people, genes can affect how their bodies change food into energy and store fat. Genes can also affect people's lifestyle choices. There are also some rare genetic conditions that can cause obesity, such as Prader-Willi syndrome.
The term skinny fat or normal weight obesity (NWO) refers to a person who is normal or below normal weight but has a higher than optimal body fat percentage and often lower than optimal lean body mass. A person with a skinny fat body type can have very high amounts of body fat as compared to a lean body mass.
Compared with normal weight young adults, overweight or obese young adults stood taller in childhood, but had relatively less growth in height throughout the teenage years. There was no association between adult height and weight status.
A 'mom pooch' is a distended or partially rounded belly. This can happen after giving birth, may be worse after multiple births and can last forever. Often times it makes you look pregnant and feel bloated. It can impact how you view yourself, your digestion, and muscle function.
It's usually large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genes and other factors. It involves visceral fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and typically feels hard to touch. A PCOS belly is also characterized by a high waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 (apple body shape).
Visceral fat is belly fat found deep within your abdominal cavity. It surrounds important organs, including your stomach, liver and intestines. It's different than subcutaneous fat, which is fat just below your skin. Visceral fat is actually more dangerous to your health.
What does “skinny fat” look like? Phenotypically, they look lean and healthy, but when we check them out they have high levels of body fat and inflammation. This ectomorph body build has hidden high levels of body fat. They appear thin and flabby.
Fat does not get softer as you lose weight. When you lose weight, the fat cells in your body shrink in size, but they do not change in texture or consistency. However, as you lose weight, you may notice that the skin around the areas where you have lost fat may appear softer or looser.
Researchers have found that the number of fat cells in your body is set during adolescence and remains constant through adulthood, regardless of whether you gain or lose weight.
More significant weight gain is normal during the preadolescent ages of roughly 9 to 12 and adolescence – as a child matures into a young adult. It's not unusual for the body to store fat during this time as it prepares for the rapid growth and changes associated with puberty.