A specialist doctor warned against the common belief that maintaining a normal weight necessarily means good health, indicating that some people who appear slim may suffer from hidden metabolic disorders that increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Dr. Philip Bayzer, a specialist in weight loss medicine on the Doctify platform, said there is a medically known category called "unhealthily normal weight," which refers to individuals who have a weight within the normal range according to the Body Mass Index, but whose bodies fail to efficiently process nutrients.
He explained that fat accumulation in the abdominal area is the most common factor behind this condition, even among those whose weight appears normal, according to the British newspaper Mirror..
A quick test reveals the risk within half a minute
Bayzer mentioned that there is a simple and quick test that can be conducted at home in just 30 seconds, which is to measure the waist circumference relative to the height.
A person is considered within the healthy range if their waist circumference is less than half their height.
Measurements less than 94 cm for men and 80 cm for women are also good indicators of metabolic health. However, those whose measurements exceed these levels are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Signs of good metabolic health
According to the doctor, good metabolic health can be indicated by a variety of factors including:
• Stable energy levels without sudden drops
• Ability to control hunger when missing a meal
• Waist circumference within healthy limits
• Normal weight according to Body Mass Index
• Balanced fat percentage
• Normal blood pressure
• Healthy levels of glucose, fats, and vitamins
• Absence of inflammation or dysfunction in body organs
When should you be concerned?
Bayzer explains that the waist-to-height ratio is classified as follows:
• Less than 0.5: Safe
• Between 0.5 and 0.6: Increased risk
• More than 0.6: High risk requiring medical follow-up
He also emphasized the importance of regular check-ups, especially as one grows older, noting that some ethnic groups, particularly those of Asian descent, are more prone to abdominal fat accumulation, making body composition analysis a more accurate tool to assess health risks.
