Recently, the "Bone Enveloped by Fat" body type has become popular among young people. Many find the soft and cute appearance of having less muscle and fat wrapped around the bones appealing, and even deliberately emulate it.
Li Chao, director of the Weight Management Center at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, reminds us that this body type may appear slim, but it is actually a "skinny fat" and belongs to "obesity-related sarcopenia", posing higher health risks than general obesity!
Core warning:
"Bone Enveloped by Fat" is not true slimness, but rather an excessive amount of body fat and insufficient muscle mass, which can easily lead to physical weakness, osteoporosis, as well as problems such as visceral fat accumulation and metabolic abnormalities. High vigilance is needed!
I. What is "Bone Enveloped by Fat"?
"Bone Enveloped by Fat" is an image expression, which is medically called "obesity-related sarcopenia". It specifically refers to people with normal or slightly lower body weight, insufficient muscle mass, but high body fat percentage. It belongs to sarcopenic obesity, with the following typical characteristics:
Excessive body fat percentage: reaching 25% to 30% (healthy range is 20% to 25%);
Insufficient muscle mass: less than 25% (healthy standard: 30% to 35%);
External and internal manifestations: flabby limbs, poor physical strength, low basal metabolic rate, and accompanied by visceral fat accumulation.
II. Three major causes of "Bone Enveloped by Fat"
Director Li Chao summarized the three major causes of "Bone Enveloped by Fat" based on clinical cases, corresponding to different populations:
1. Disease factors (mainly tumor patients)
Patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. are often obese at the initial diagnosis. During anti-tumor treatment, poor appetite and malnutrition lead to skeletal muscle loss, gradually evolving into "obesity-related sarcopenia".
2. Unhealthy lifestyle (prevalent among young women)
Frequent consumption of processed foods such as snacks, dim sum, and sugary drinks, insufficient intake of high-quality protein (lean meat, eggs, milk, soy products), coupled with limited outdoor activities and extremely low physical activity, leads to fat accumulation and insufficient muscle mass.
3. Unscientific weight loss (blindly dieting/using medication)
Relying on dieting and weight-loss drugs to achieve rapid weight loss may result in a decrease in body weight and a thinner appearance, but it also leads to a simultaneous loss of muscle mass and a persistently high body fat percentage, ultimately trapping individuals in an unhealthy state of being "skinny-fat".
III. Targeted Preventive Measures
Director Li Chao provided targeted prevention suggestions for different causes, precisely avoiding the risk of "Bone Enveloped by Fat":
Cancer patient population: Do not overlook malnutrition due to normal/overweight body weight. Closely monitor changes in body weight and biochemical indicators, promptly undergo nutritional assessment and intervention, and avoid skeletal muscle loss.
People with unhealthy lifestyles: Follow dietary guidelines, reduce intake of processed foods, and maintain a balanced diet; engage in moderate exercise, while also paying attention to your vitamin D levels to aid muscle synthesis.
People who blindly lose weight: Abandon the mindset of "lazy weight loss", understand that the core of weight loss is "health + aesthetics", and reject extreme weight loss methods that sacrifice health.
IV. How to determine whether you are "Bone Enveloped by Fat"?
Here are two simple methods to help you make a preliminary self-assessment:
Skin fold thickness test
When standing, pinch the fat 2-3 cm away from the navel. If the thickness is more than 2 cm and the BMI (Body Mass Index) is within the normal range of 18.5-23.9 kg/㎡, it may indicate a "Bone Enveloped by Fat" body type.
Body composition analysis
Using a body fat scale or professional equipment for detection: If an adult female's body fat percentage exceeds 30% and a male's exceeds 25%, or if their skeletal muscle content is lower than that of their peers, it can be roughly determined as "Bone Enveloped by Fat".
Experts remind: Do not blindly follow the trend and pursue the "Bone Enveloped by Fat" body type, as it is an abnormal metabolic signal emitted by the body. If you suspect any related issues, it is recommended to seek medical diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner. The core is to achieve "muscle gain and fat loss" through scientific intervention and safeguard your physical health!
Li Chao, Master of Nutrition
Director of Weight Management Center
Medical expertise
Skilled in conducting precise and professional nutritional assessments and interventions for patients with diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and tube-fed patients; providing individualized and multi-modal nutritional treatment plans including dietary guidance, therapeutic Tonic Diet, enteral nutrition, and parenteral nutrition.
Source | International Tourism Island Business Daily