Hidden fat in young New Zealand women – what are the metabolic risk and predictive factors?

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Looks can be deceiving. Individuals that appear slender and healthy may actually have significant and unhealthy fat stores. Previous pilot data identified women with normal body mass index, but an excessive amount of body fat. They appeared lean and healthy, but could have increased risk of inflammatory and metabolic disorders. Genetic make-up may predispose women to this phenomenon; however environmental changes, like diet and activity may change the consequences. A significant proportion of young women (~20%), usually classified as having normal BMI (43.0% of the NZ population), may in actual fact have a hidden fat profile with related higher metabolic risk. Since BMI is often used as an indicator for health body size, these women will remain unidentified and will be excluded from early intervention or prevention practices in the public health system. Adolescent BMI values peak at 16 years, are higher in girls, and continue to rise until the age of 34 to 44 years. Therefore this research will target this vulnerable group of post-menarche, premenopausal women, potentially practicing risky eating or lifestyle behaviours that contribute to excessive fat deposition affecting metabolic profiles that may benefit from preventive action. We hypothesise that the “hidden fat profile” is associated with increased metabolic disease risk in New Zealand (NZ) European, Maori, and Pasifika women aged 16 to 45 years. We also believe that dietary and physical activity patterns are predictors of body composition profiles by modulating gene (microRNA) expression associated with energy expenditure/storage. Variations in taste perception may further be associated with metabolic phenotypes and/or food preference. This has never been investigated in the multi-ethnic New Zealand population. In addition, we are intrigued to find out whether our nature (genes) is influenced by our nurture (dietary intake and physical activity) when accumulating body fat, and if it differs between ethnicities, particularly in this new emerging at risk group of women carrying hidden fat. These findings may guide evidence-based practice to improve health outcomes, reducing health care costs.