TOFI or FOTI?

Measure Your Waist

I've been reading this Yahoo article about top excuses for not exercising.  I had to laugh at no. 6 because normally, people do hate exercising.  But I also think it's also about the mind set.  If you know it's good for you, you'll do it anyway even if your body doesn't want to.  Anyway, what really caught my attention is item no. 4 of that article that mentions a bit about TOFI.  It's a new term for me, but the concept, I realize is something that's already lodged in my brain, having read about that from somewhere.

First, let's get a bit more acquainted with the fat terms. The visible fat just under the skin is termed subcutaneous fat. People with healthy body mass index (BMI) appear leaner and therefore, this fat is not much of a concern, at least on a superficial view.  Appearing lean, however is not a reason to claim one is healthier than the overweight people in general. It seems that a more pressing concern involves an excess of the visceral fat, the one that is in between our vital organs such as the liver and heart.  This concept of outer and inner fat leads us to the term TOFI which is an acronym for thin outside, fat inside. 

I must admit, before, I used to think that only overweight people get hypertension and cardiovascular disease.  That was a long time ago, when I didn't have hypertension.  I have always been lean, thin even.  It's only just a few years ago that I gained some bulge but I'm still generally lean. Yet, almost a year ago, I've gone a bit overboard with my bad cholesterol level which has a direct link with visceral fat.  And as you know, I am still into medication because of essential hypertension.  Talk about bursting my bubble.

It's interesting, what I've read in this article that mentions sumo wrestlers.  You'd think that with that huge size and BMI's that go to the morbidly obese level that they would simply keel over one of these days, carrying all that excess baggage of fat.  The test subjects however are the perfect example of the opposite of TOFI which is FOTI or fat outside, thin inside.  Confusing?  I know!  It's like saying I am more likely to die of a heart attack than they do lol!

All these concepts, it's like turning upside down, inside out right?  So what am I driving at?  Well, first, I think we should stop being fixated on outward appearances and obsessing on our body shapes.  Appearing overweight is probably not always as bad as we picture it.  On the other hand, appearing thin is, like I said, no reason to gloat and feel complacent about.  Second, fat is good and is actually necessary for vital functions, but only in the right proportions.  Good things in excess is bad in the long run.  So how do we achieve a good balance?  It still boils down to proper diet and a good amount of daily exercise.  It's  a package deal and you can't just focus on one.  

So, is it a TOFI or a FOTI?  Neither.  A better choice would be to be fit and healthy, both on the inside and the outside.  Tough, but it's something we could all work for, right?