LOOKS can be deceptive. Apparently, healthy looking and lean lndians run higher risk of heart disease compared to obese whites. Scientists claim to have figured out why this is so.
A new study published on Thursday says South Asians are more likely to add additional fat onto their internal organs such as the liver when they gain weight, while people from other ethnic groups just add it to their waistlines. This perhaps explains high levels of heart diseases and other metabolic disorders among Indians even though they may look healthier otherwise.
South Asians are particularly more likely to add the type of organ- hugging fat that can lead to diabetes and coronary artery disease, pointed out Dr Sonia Anand of McMaster University, who led the study published in medical journal PLoS ONE on Thursday.
Earlier research had shown that people of Indian origin who may have the same body mass index as white Caucasians but have more risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes, low levels of ‘ good’ or HDL cholesterol and greater abdominal obesity.
The new study shows Asians have less space to store fat below the skin than white Caucasians, researchers said.
Their excess fat overflows to organs such as the liver in the abdomen. This fat around organs is called visceral fat which is linked with problems like elevated glucose and abnormal lipids that ultimately lead to coronary artery disease.
Healthy men and women from two ethnic groups — with body mass index ( BMI) varying from lean to obese — were included in the study and detailed information including fat biopsy, muscle biopsy, fatty liver assessment was collected, researchers said.
The findings explain why south Asians may not be obese or look fat but still they may have metabolic changes because of excess ‘ internal organ fat’, Anand said. Apparently healthy South Asians have greater metabolic impairment compared to white Caucasians who tend to develop metabolic changes at higher levels of obesity and at a more advanced age.
Dr Arya Sharma, director of the Canadian Obesity Network and a co- author of the study said the findings could have significant clinical implications for physicians treating people from the Indian sub- continent.
Research indicates that heart ailments are one of the most prevalent causes of deaths in India.
LEAN INDIANS HAVE INTERNAL ORGAN FAT
Research has busted the myth that lean Indians are at a lower risk of acquiring heart diseases unlike their western counterparts who tend to put on more round their middle
South Asians, particularly, are prone to accumulating more fat onto their internal organs such as the liver when they gain weight although they may not look fat if one goes by their build
According to the study, Indians with the same body mass index ( BMI) as white Caucasians have more number of risk factors associated with a weak heart such as diabetes, greater abdominal obesity, etc
The research has been able to explain why south Asians may not look obese but still suffer from metabolic changes, as they have excess of 'internal organ fat'.
A new study published on Thursday says South Asians are more likely to add additional fat onto their internal organs such as the liver when they gain weight, while people from other ethnic groups just add it to their waistlines. This perhaps explains high levels of heart diseases and other metabolic disorders among Indians even though they may look healthier otherwise.
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South Asians are particularly more likely to add the type of organ- hugging fat that can lead to diabetes and coronary artery disease, pointed out Dr Sonia Anand of McMaster University, who led the study published in medical journal PLoS ONE on Thursday.
Earlier research had shown that people of Indian origin who may have the same body mass index as white Caucasians but have more risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes, low levels of ‘ good’ or HDL cholesterol and greater abdominal obesity.
The new study shows Asians have less space to store fat below the skin than white Caucasians, researchers said.
Their excess fat overflows to organs such as the liver in the abdomen. This fat around organs is called visceral fat which is linked with problems like elevated glucose and abnormal lipids that ultimately lead to coronary artery disease.
Healthy men and women from two ethnic groups — with body mass index ( BMI) varying from lean to obese — were included in the study and detailed information including fat biopsy, muscle biopsy, fatty liver assessment was collected, researchers said.
The findings explain why south Asians may not be obese or look fat but still they may have metabolic changes because of excess ‘ internal organ fat’, Anand said. Apparently healthy South Asians have greater metabolic impairment compared to white Caucasians who tend to develop metabolic changes at higher levels of obesity and at a more advanced age.
Dr Arya Sharma, director of the Canadian Obesity Network and a co- author of the study said the findings could have significant clinical implications for physicians treating people from the Indian sub- continent.
Research indicates that heart ailments are one of the most prevalent causes of deaths in India.
LEAN INDIANS HAVE INTERNAL ORGAN FAT
Research has busted the myth that lean Indians are at a lower risk of acquiring heart diseases unlike their western counterparts who tend to put on more round their middle
South Asians, particularly, are prone to accumulating more fat onto their internal organs such as the liver when they gain weight although they may not look fat if one goes by their build
According to the study, Indians with the same body mass index ( BMI) as white Caucasians have more number of risk factors associated with a weak heart such as diabetes, greater abdominal obesity, etc
The research has been able to explain why south Asians may not look obese but still suffer from metabolic changes, as they have excess of 'internal organ fat'.
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