By Harshada Paliwal

On this April Fool’s Day, many of us unknowingly fool ourselves.

We step on the scale.
We calculate our BMI.
We feel reassured.

But here’s the truth:

Only weight and BMI don’t tell the full story of your health.

Because what really matters is not just how much you weigh —
but where your fat is stored.

The Hidden Danger – Central Obesity:

Fat stored around your abdomen, known as central obesity, is the most dangerous type of fat. Unlike fat stored in hips or thighs, abdominal fat (especially visceral fat) surrounds vital organs like:

• Liver
• Pancreas
• Intestines

And it is metabolically active. This means it directly interferes with your body’s normal functioning.

Why Belly Fat Is More Dangerous:

Central obesity is strongly linked to:

• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes
• Dyslipidaemia
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular diseases

Even more concerning, you can have a “normal weight” and still be metabolically unhealthy. This condition is often called “TOFI” — Thin Outside, Fat Inside.

Waist Circumference – A Better Indicator:

Waist circumference (WC) is one of the anthropometric measurements that informs an individual about central adiposity, which is very strongly associated with metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and also metabolic syndrome because of the fat concentration in the abdominal region having effects on insulin sensitivity and inflammatory processes

Contrasting with Body Mass Index (BMI), which calculates overall body weight, WC focuses more on the abdominal fat that is associated more closely with metabolic disorders. Research indicates that WC is a better correlate of metabolic health than BMI because it directly relates with visceral fat, which has a much higher impact on metabolic functions as it is metabolically active and secretes inflammatory cytokines that contribute to insulin resistance and other metabolic disturbances.

• How to Measure:
• Use a measuring tape
• Measure at the midpoint between the lower rib and hip bone
• Stand relaxed (don’t suck in your stomach)
• Risk Cut-offs (for Indians):
• Men: ≥ 90 cm
• Women: ≥ 80 cm

If your waist exceeds these values, your metabolic risk increases; regardless of your weight.

(Source:  Anoop Mishra et al., (2025) Revised definition of obesity in Asian Indians living in India)

Why We Ignore It:

Because weight is visible.
BMI is familiar.
Waist circumference? Not so much.

Also:

• We celebrate weight loss, not fat distribution
• Clothes tightening is easier to ignore than scale changes
• Society equates “thin” with “healthy”

And that’s where the real problem begins.

The Takeaway

• This April Fool’s Day, don’t fool yourself.
• A stable weight does not always mean stable health.
• Instead of asking: “How much do I weigh?”
• Start asking: “Where is my fat stored?”

Health is not just about the number on the scale. It’s about what’s happening inside your body.

So this April 1st…

Don’t fall for the illusion.
Look beyond weight.

Because sometimes, the biggest health risks are the ones we don’t see!