I've been at this medical reporting thing for a long time and this was the first I'd heard about normal weight obesity. I love my job.. I learn every day!! Dr. Mays says this condition can be especially problematic in Asians who can look quite "thin' on the outside but yet have a lot of this internal fat on the inside.

She says this internal fat is processed differently than the under-the-skin fat, and that it can cause your triglycerides to shoot up etc as the liver tries to get a handle on your fatty guts.

I found a few links on the topic here-- some are a little jargony but, wow.. who knew?!

First element here:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view_article.php?article_id=52989

Which is referring to this: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/1/40

Which is explained most clearly here: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20070112/not-overweight-still-fat

Also: http://www.imwr.com/article.php?s=IMWR/2007/04&p=43

This references the prevalence in one study between ballet dancers and the control group (notice both groups had normal-weight obesity on some level): http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/ge/2005/00000020/00000004/art00003?crawler=true

Hey, the Portland Spirit was GREAT!!!! The weather was fantastic, sitting up with the Captian was cool, the food was good, and this gal Lisa-- who is the sister of our 5pm producer Gina-- was managing that night and sang all these great songs! She's got pipes!!

Anyway, I have to fly! I'm finishing up a different story I didn't get done last week. Every spare second around here gets used up it seems. :-)

Email me!! Stephanie Stricklen