TOFI

TOFI[1][2] (thin-outside-fat-inside) is used to describe lean individuals with a disproportionate amount of fat (adipose tissue) stored in their abdomen. The figure to illustrate this shows two men, both 35 years old, with a BMI of 25 kg/m2. Despite their similar size, the TOFI had 5.86 litres of internal fat, whilst the healthy control had only 1.65 litres.

Coronal Image of a TOFI and a Normal Control

Subjects defined as TOFI with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2 have increased levels of many of the risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome. This phenotype is a further refinement of “metabolically-obese normal-weight"[3][4][5] (MONW).

Subjects defined as TOFI have been described as being at higher risk of developing insulin resistance and type II diabetes due to the fact that they have reduced physical activity/VO2max, reduced insulin sensitivity, higher abdominal adiposity, and a more atherogenic lipid profile. Another important characteristic observed in this cohort is elevated levels of liver fat. It is shown that overconsumption of fructose can lead to TOFI by inducing inflammation associated cortisol release.[6]

Measurement

To classify an individual as TOFI, it is essential to measure their internal fat content. This is done by using magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) or CT scanning. The parameters of the MRI scanner are manipulated to show fat as bright (white) and lean tissue as dark.

Indirect methods such as waist circumference are not suitable as individuals with an identical waist circumference can have vastly different levels of internal fat.

Variation in visceral fat in men with the same waist circumference

The figure clearly shows that despite having an identical waist circumference (in this example all men had a waist of 84 cm), there is considerable variation in the amount of visceral fat (volumes shown on the image in litres) present.

Epidemiology

This is difficult to establish in the general population since the necessary imaging examinations are time consuming and expensive; however, in a recent research study it was estimated that 14% of the men and 12% of the women scanned with a BMI 20–25 kg/m2 were classified as TOFI[1].

Society and culture

Since the first scientific observations that some lean subjects could have as much, if not more, body fat internally than overweight or obese individuals,[7] there has been considerable media and press interest in this area of research. The first article in the popular press appeared in 2006 in The Guardian,[8] followed by many other newspapers[9][10] and television documentaries.[11][12]

gollark: Birth rates tend to go lower in more developed countries, and it's possible to use resources/land/whatever more efficiently as technology advances.
gollark: It's probably fine, as long as technology keeps improving.
gollark: Solution: achieve immortality.
gollark: "Immortality" is the most convenient descriptor for that.
gollark: I mean, I don't want to live *forever*, but an arbitrarily long (chosen by me) time.

See also

References
  1. Thomas, E. Louise; Frost, Gary; Taylor-Robinson, Simon D.; Bell, Jimmy D. (2012). "Excess body fat in obese and normal-weight subjects". Nutrition Research Reviews. 25 (1): 150–161. doi:10.1017/S0954422412000054. PMID 22625426.
  2. Thomas, E. Louise; Parkinson, James R.; Frost, Gary S.; Goldstone, Anthony P.; Doré, Caroline J.; McCarthy, John P.; Collins, Adam L.; Fitzpatrick, Julie A.; Durighel, Giuliana; Taylor-Robinson, Simon D.; Bell, Jimmy D. (2011). "The Missing Risk: MRI and MRS Phenotyping of Abdominal Adiposity and Ectopic Fat". Obesity. 20 (1): 76–87. doi:10.1038/oby.2011.142. PMID 21660078.
  3. Ruderman Neil B.; Schneider, S. H.; Berchtold, P. (August 1981). "The "metabolically-obese," normal-weight individual". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 34 (8): 1617–1621.
  4. Conus, Florence; Rabasa-Lhoret, Rémi; Péronnet, François (2007). "Characteristics of metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) subjects". Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 32 (6): 4–12. doi:10.1139/H07-926. PMID 17332780.
  5. De Lorenzo, A.; Martinoli, R.; Vaia, F.; Di Renzo, L. (December 2006). "Normal weight obese (NWO) women: an evaluation of a candidate new syndrome". Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases. 16 (8): 513–523. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2005.10.010. PMID 17126766.
  6. DiNicolantonio, James J.; Mehta, Varshil; Onkaramurthy, Neema; O'Keefe, James H. (2017-12-07). "Fructose-induced Inflammation and Increased Cortisol: A New Mechanism for How Sugar Induces Visceral Adiposity". Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2017.12.001. ISSN 1873-1740. PMID 29225114.
  7. Thomas, E. Louise; Saeed, Nadeem; Hajnal, Joseph V.; Brynes, Audrey; Goldstone, Anthony P.; Frost, Gary; Bell, Jimmy D. (November 1998). "Magnetic resonance imaging of total body fat". Journal of Applied Physiology. 85 (5): 1778–1785. PMID 9804581.
  8. Revill, Jo (10 December 2006). "Are you a Tofi? (That's thin on the outside, fat inside)". Science. The Observer. Guardian. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  9. Derbyshire, David (2006-12-11). "Get in touch with your inner fat". Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  10. Cheng, Maria (2007-05-10). "DIET: Thin people may be fat inside". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  11. "Jacques's MRI scan". The Men Who Made Us Fat. Episode 1. 2012-06-14. BBC. BBC Two. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  12. "BBC News - Health Explained: What is fat?". BBC. 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
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