ARE YOU FAT ON THE INSIDE?

 

‘SKINNY-FAT’ IS THE NEW TERM FOR SLIM WOMEN WHO LIVE ON JUNK FOOD AND SKIP THE GYM. BUT THEY CAN HAVE MORE BODY FAT THAN CURVIER TYPES LEADING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. WE MEASURED THE BODY FAT OF TWO READERS TO TEST THE THEORY

By Claudia Connell

 

THE SIZE 8 SLOB

Leila Naghashi, 26, an office manager from Wirral

I’m 5ft 5in, 8st, but the first to admit my diet is terrible.

I live on takeaways and cola, and I’ve never cooked a meal at home.

I’m single and my busy social life mostly revolves around eating and drinking.

We always have a big night out on Fridays.

When I have a drink, I smoke – eight or nine vodkas and 20 cigarettes in a night isn’t unusual.

I rarely eat breakfast because I’m always running late for work, but I snack a lot through the day.

I try to eat a couple of pieces of fruit but I don’t usually get my five portions a day.

I know you’re meant to drink two litres of water, but I can’t stand the taste of it so I have fizzy drinks when I’m thirsty.

And I never exercise – if I ever put on weight I’d start, but as I don’t, I can’t see a reason to hit the gym.

The expert’s verdict

Dr Simon Dyall, head of academic studies at the British College Of Osteopathic Medicine, says: “Being thin is not a guarantee of having a healthy body-fat level, and Leila is a good example of this. Her fat percentage is very high for her age. The perfect ratio for females is 25 per cent fat with 75 per cent lean mass, so Leila has 10 per cent more body fat than she ideally should. Once your body fat goes over 30 per cent, you should take action.

"Leila doesn’t need to lose weight, but she could do with losing fat. She should take more aerobic exercise to increase her metabolism and build muscle, and she should aim to improve her diet. The notion that slim people don’t need to exercise is a myth.”

Leila’s daily diet and exercise regime

Breakfast: Can of cola, bar of chocolate, bacon sandwich
Snack: Packet of crisps
Lunch: Burger and fries, cola
Snack: Apple and wine gums
Evening: Pizza, garlic bread, four vodka and colas, slice of chocolate fudge cake
Total calories: 2,432
Total fat: 78g
Exercise: 15 minutes walking

Leila says: “I’m shocked at the results! It’s hard to believe I can wear a size 8 but technically be ‘fat’. From now on I’m going to work hard to reduce my body fat.”

 

THE SIZE 14 FITNESS FREAK

Emma Lanman, 24, a firefighter from east London

I’m a fitness junkie, so I feel like a slob if I don’t exercise at least once a day.

Being in the fire brigade means I have to stay in shape – we’re expected to maintain a certain level of fitness and often have drills.

I also play rugby for a local team and train twice a week with them.

I eat a lot because my active lifestyle means I’m usually hungry.

I have lots of fish and chicken, and I bulk up on vegetables because they’re filling and give me loads of energy.

I’d rather snack on fruit than have a bag of crisps.

I don’t smoke and although I love a few beers, I save my drinking for when I have nights off work, so five days out of seven I don’t drink.

I also have lots of water every day.

I’m 5ft 6in and weigh 10st 13lb. But I’m happy with my figure because I know I look after myself.

The expert’s verdict

Dr Dyall says: “Emma’s ratio of body fat to lean mass is perfect. Her active lifestyle means she’s able to consume more than a slimmer, less active person and not worry about gaining weight. She has very little body fat.”

Emma’s daily diet and exercise regime

Breakfast: Porridge and fruit
Snack: Nuts, raisins and banana
Lunch: Tuna salad or sandwich, a smoothie
Snack: Cheese and biscuits
Evening: Fish, potatoes, veg
Total calories: 1,800
Total fat: 55g
Exercise: Drill at station, 60-minute gym workout or 90-minute rugby practice

Emma says: “I’m thrilled to be considered ‘skinnier’ than Leila. It’s staggering to think I have less fat than somebody who weighs 34lb less than me – and whose jeans I couldn’t even get over my knees!”

 

Have you undergone a body transformation? What’s more important to you, looking good or being healthy? Do you think about the long-term implications of dieting to look good?

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