{
  "id": 14331371,
  "title": "Why two people with same BMI can have different risks of diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/why-two-people-with-same-bmi-can-have-different-risks-of-diabetes",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-14T00:30:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - Lifestyle",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-lifestyle",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/why-two-people-with-same-bmi-can-have-different-risks-of-diabetes-heart-disease-and-fatty-liver-10914130/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Despite sharing the same body weight and body mass index (BMI), two individuals can exhibit significantly different risks of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. The underlying cause may lie in their body composition, specifically the amount of muscle and fat they possess and the location of that fat storage. According to Dr. Saurabh Juneja, Director and Head of Cardiac Sciences at ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, BMI alone does not provide a complete picture of a person's metabolic health.\n\nDr. Juneja explains that BMI only considers weight relative to height, disregarding the distribution of body fat and muscle mass. Consequently, two people with identical BMI readings could have vastly different body compositions. One individual might have more muscle and less harmful fat, while the other may have an excessive accumulation of visceral fat, which is the more concerning type of fat.\n\nVisceral fat, located deep within the abdominal cavity, is metabolically active and can contribute to various health issues. When present in excess, this type of fat releases fatty acids and inflammatory substances that interfere with the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, ultimately increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. In contrast, subcutaneous fat, which is the fat stored just beneath the skin, is less metabolically active and poses fewer risks.\n\nThe detrimental effects of excess visceral fat extend beyond an enlarged waistline. It can impair blood sugar regulation, damage blood vessels, and lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver. These factors collectively contribute to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease, even in individuals who maintain a normal BMI.\n\nIt is worth noting that some individuals may have a normal BMI but still carry excess visceral fat or have relatively low muscle mass, a condition often referred to as \"normal-weight obesity.\" Despite appearing healthy from the outside, these individuals can still develop insulin resistance, abnormal cholesterol levels, fatty liver disease, and heart disease. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent among South Asians, who tend to store more fat around the abdomen even at lower body weights.\n\nWhile body composition is a crucial factor in determining disease risk, it is not the sole determinant. Other influential factors include genetics, age, gender, physical activity levels, diet quality, sleep patterns, stress levels, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and family history. Genetic predispositions can also impact where the body tends to store fat, making some individuals more susceptible to metabolic conditions despite having a seemingly healthy weight.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Two people with same BMI can have different metabolic risks due to varying body composition.",
    "Visceral fat, located deep in abdomen, increases diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver risks."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Why two people with same BMI can have different risks of diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/why-two-people-with-same-bmi-can-have-different-risks-of-diabetes-14335743",
        "published": "2026-10-14T00:30:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}