"Normal-Weight Obese" Syndrome May Up Heart Risks
(Reuters Health, 1/26/07)

Dr. Antonino De Lorenzo of the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, and team, define “Normal Weight Obese” (NWO) syndrome as a condition in which an individual’s weight is normal when measured by BMI, but whose body has more than 30% fat. De Lorenzo’s team compared 20 young women with NWO syndrome to 20 “normal” and 20 “overweight” women. The investigators found that, compared to their "normal" peers, women with NWO syndrome tended to have higher levels of inflammatory proteins, which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. The scientists theorize that the women's excess fatty tissue secretes these inflammatory substances. These findings suggest that assessing body fat may help uncover hidden cardiovascular risks..

(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2007)