Yes. You can have a normal weight, but if your body fat percentage is high enough, you may be considered obese — a condition known as normal weight obesity. Normal weight obesity means you may have the same serious health risks as does someone who's obese. Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat — not as weighing too much.
A formula called body mass index (BMI) is used to determine whether you're at a healthy weight for your height. But BMI doesn't tell the whole story because it doesn't measure body fat. So you may have a normal BMI while your body fat percentage is high enough to increase health risks.
Researchers are still trying to determine what percentage of body fat counts as obesity when your weight is normal, and whether guidelines should be different depending on your age and sex.
Like obesity, normal weight obesity may increase your risk of serious health problems, including:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Abnormal cholesterol — a high triglyceride level but a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Metabolic syndrome
If you're concerned about your body fat percentage, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may want to measure your body fat and recommend additional tests to see if you're at risk of obesity-related conditions. Your doctor may also encourage you to start eating healthier and increase your activity level.
Show References
- Understanding adult overweight and obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/weight-control/understanding/Pages/understanding-adult-overweight-and-obesity.aspx. Accessed May 21, 2017.
- Defining overweight and obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html. Accessed May 21, 2017.
- Saito Y, et al. Associations between body fat variability and later onset of cardiovascular disease risk factors. PLOS One. 2017;12:e0175057.
- Maffetone PB, et al. Overfat and underfat: New terms and definitions long overdue. Frontiers in Public Health. 2017;4:279.
- Olafsdottir AS, et al. Health behavior and metabolic risk factors associated with normal weight obesity in adolescents. PLOS One. 2016;11:e0161451.
- Weber DR, et al. Fat and lean BMI reference curves in children and adolescents and their utility in identifying excess adiposity compared with BMI and percentage body fat. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2013;98:49.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/expert-answers/normal-weight-obesity/FAQ-20058313