Recently, there has been a trend among young people to pursue a "fat and bone" body shape. They believe that a body with few muscles and fat coating outside the bones looks very slim. But some netizens question whether the "fat covered bone" body shape is actually "muscle reducing obesity", belonging to the category of "hidden obesity", and its health risks may be higher than those of simple obesity. So what are the characteristics of a 'fat covered bone' body shape? Does it pose any health risks? For this purpose, reporters from Science and Technology Daily interviewed relevant experts to gain a deeper understanding of the true nature of "fat wrapped bone". 'Thin on the outside and fat on the inside' is a characteristic of 'fat wrapped bone', which is not really slim, but 'thin and fat'. ”Jia Min, director of the Prevention and Health Care Department of the Jiangbei Branch of the Southwest Hospital of the Army Medical University, said that the core feature of "fat wrapped bone" is excessive fat content, while the content and quality of skeletal muscle decrease. From the appearance, people with a "fat covered bone" physique have a normal or even lighter body weight or BMI (body mass index, which is the weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in meters)). However, when pinching their arms and waist, they can easily form a layer of soft fat. Their body lacks tight lines and may also be accompanied by poor body shape such as round shoulders and hunchbacks. From a functional perspective, people with a "fat covered bone" physique often experience fatigue, poor endurance, wheezing after climbing a few floors, difficulty lifting heavy objects and twisting bottle caps, and have a low basal metabolic rate. If they do not control their diet, they will gain weight easily, which belongs to the "easy to gain weight but difficult to lose weight" constitution. So how do ordinary people judge whether they have a "fat covered bone" body shape? Lian Yu, director of the Endocrinology Department of Jiangbei Branch of Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University, proposed two methods. One is the skin fold thickness test. When standing, pinch the fat 2 to 3 centimeters above the navel. If the thickness exceeds 2 centimeters and the BMI is between 18.5 kilograms per square meter and 23.9 kilograms per square meter, it may be a "fat covered bone" body shape. The second is the analysis of human body composition. A body fat scale or professional instrument can be used for testing. If the body fat percentage of adult females and males exceeds 30% and 25% respectively, or the skeletal muscle content is lower than that of their peers, it can be roughly judged as a "fat covered bone" body shape. Unhealthy lifestyle is the main cause. 'Fat coated bone' is the result of long-term accumulation of multiple factors, and unhealthy lifestyle is the core inducement. ”Jia Min believes that when the human body lacks strength training for a long time, muscles will be lost, the basal metabolic rate will decrease, and fat will easily accumulate; Blindly dieting and insufficient protein intake can lead to a lack of raw materials for muscle synthesis, and the body may even break down its own muscles for energy supply; Sitting still for a long time can also reduce metabolism, affect vitamin D synthesis, weaken muscle function, and form a "fat covered bone" body shape. Lian Yu added that aging can also exacerbate the situation - after the age of 30, the body's muscle mass decreases by 3% to 8% every 10 years. When male testosterone decreases and females enter menopause, muscle synthesis ability becomes weaker. At the same time, insufficient sleep and high stress can also disrupt hormones, inhibit muscle synthesis, and lead to fat accumulation. In addition, metabolic and endocrine abnormalities can also lead to the formation of 'lipid coated bone'. ”Lian Yu added that if insulin resistance occurs in the human body, high blood sugar and insulin levels will promote fat synthesis and inhibit muscle uptake and utilization of glucose; When symptoms of hypothyroidism occur in the human body, it can lead to a decrease in metabolic rate and fat accumulation. Lian Yu especially reminds that people with endocrine diseases such as diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and Cushing's syndrome, as well as chronic kidney disease, liver disease and other chronic diseases, should pay special attention to be alert to the weight gain or muscle loss caused by diseases, which will eventually form a "fat and bone" figure and affect their health. Jia Min told reporters that "increasing muscle mass and reducing fat" is the key. A "fat covered bone" body shape means a reduction in muscle mass, weakened muscle support for bones, and decreased glucose and lipid metabolism, which can easily induce diseases such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, and even lead to weakened immunity and cognitive function, with higher health risks than simple obesity. Lian Yu also believes that "fat wrapped bone" is actually a metabolic crisis signal sent by the body and needs to be taken seriously. When necessary, patients should promptly go to a tertiary hospital for evaluation, develop personalized treatment plans, and gradually improve body composition through scientific intervention, in order to achieve the goal of "increasing muscle and reducing fat" and form a healthy body with "tight muscles and abundant vitality". So, how to "increase muscle and reduce fat" and improve the "fat covered bone" body shape? Jia Min and Lian Yu suggest that in exercise, resistance training should be the main focus, completing 2-3 dumbbell exercises, squats, plank supports, etc. per week, accompanied by 150 minutes of aerobic exercise such as brisk walking and swimming per week; In terms of diet, it is necessary to ensure a daily intake of 1.2-1.5 grams/kg of high-quality protein, such as fish, shrimp, eggs, milk, soy products, etc., control the intake of refined carbohydrates, and supplement more coarse grains and vitamin D. In terms of lifestyle, it is necessary to ensure 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day, maintain a happy mood, and reduce physical and psychological pressure. (New Society)