It is known that obese people are prone to lifestyle-related diseases (metabolic disorders) such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome.However, a research group at Juntendo University has revealed that some healthy, normal-weight Japanese men have mild metabolic disorders.

　In obese people, the adipose tissue that stores fat becomes over capacity, and the fat that cannot be stored overflows as free fatty acids (lipid spillover).As a result, it is thought that fat accumulates in the liver and skeletal muscle (fatty liver / fat muscle), and the sensitivity of insulin, which is a hormone that lowers blood glucose, decreases (insulin resistance occurs).Insulin resistance is one of the underlying pathologies of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

　However, in Asia, there are an extremely large number of people who become lifestyle-related diseases (metabolic disorders) even if they are not obese.To clarify the cause, this study conducted a survey of healthy non-obese Japanese men on an unprecedented scale in the world.

　As a result, it was clarified that some non-obese and healthy people have decreased adipose tissue insulin sensitivity as well as obese people.When the characteristics of these people were examined, it was found that the body fat percentage was higher, the subcutaneous fat was higher, and the fatty liver was higher than those with high adipose tissue insulin sensitivity.In other words, even if the body weight is normal, a slight increase in body fat may exceed the fat storage capacity, and even in non-obese and healthy people, lipid spillover may occur and mild metabolic disorders may occur. It is said that there are people who are doing it.

　This result suggests that even healthy people need to take measures to prevent metabolic disorders focusing on the fat storage capacity, and it is expected to greatly contribute to the promotion of preventive medicine in Japan.

Paper information:[Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism] Clinical Features of Non-obese, Apparently Healthy Japanese Men with Reduced Adipose Tissue Insulin Sensitivity