Can Your Blood Predict Your Risk of Obesity?

The measurement of obesity and poor health has often been associated with a person’s body mass index: their weight to square height ratio. The problem with this method, however, is that certain members of the population may be considered overweight, despite having a low percentage of body fat.

A recent research study suggests that your blood may be a better indicator of predicting your risk of obesity¹. The study by Kings College, London, found that measuring metabolites (compounds involved in metabolism) can predict the risk of obesity with 80-90% accuracy. Additionally, taking a blood sample can predict common health issues linked to obesity, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The problem with body mass index and obesity?

Despite body mass index being the most widely used indicator of obesity, there are several limitations of this method. A research study of almost 4300 patients found that those who were underweight had worse survival rates after surgery than slightly obese or overweight patients². Furthermore, the study noted that body mass index may not correspond with proportional changes in muscle mass or body fat.

Obesity doesn’t necessarily have a correlation with specific health problems, such as heart disease. While body mass index can help health professionals to give advice on diet and lifestyle changes, especially for those who are classed as obese by their BMI, there are people with a low BMI who have an increased level of internal fat.

While there is some evidence to suggest why people differ in body mass index, genetics only accounts than less than 2% of this difference.

Determining your health with metabolites

In the blood study by Kings College, almost 2000 British twins were analysed over an average of thirteen years. These findings were then replicated in 427 American subjects. Of the 49 metabolites closely examined, obesity was predicted in over 50% of cases. The research found that around one in five subjects were misclassified in terms of their mBMI (BMI score and healthy or unhealthy metabolism).

Subjects with a normal BMI but unhealthy metabolism have a 50% increased risk of becoming obese within the next ten years, as well as a 200 to 400% greater risk of heart disease.

The metabolites studied were not linked to obesity genes, providing the assumption that genes cannot detect the effect of metabolism.

For the researchers, the metabolites in our blood may have a part in disease triggers, and with a third of metabolites associated with gut microbes, determining health by a body mass index score is a defective process.

To reduce both body weight and internal fat, diet and exercise play a major part. Both these factors can be difficult to maintain, which is why fat reduction procedures such as liposuction can help. Related: See our article on fat removal surgery options.

Sources

1. https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(18)30630-2
2. https://academic.oup.com/bja/article/116/3/319/2566140