Nutritional Pearl

Body Fat May Matter More Than Body Mass Index

Timothy S. Harlan, MD

  • A 39-year-old woman presents to your office for a check-up. She has a BMI in the clinically normal range with a body fat measurement above the 90th percentile. She asks you if she is more likely to develop metabolic syndrome compared with someone with clinically normal weight status.

    How do you advise your patient?

    (Answer and discussion on next page)

    Dr. Gourmet is the definitive health and nutrition web resource for both physicians and patients with evidence-based resources including special diets for coumadin users, patients with GERD/acid reflux, celiac disease, type 2 diabetes, low sodium diets (1500 mg/d), and lactose intolerance.

    Timothy S. Harlan, MD, is a board-certified internist and professional chef who translates the Mediterranean diet for the American kitchen with familiar, healthy recipes. He is an assistant dean for clinical services, executive director of The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, associate professor of medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans, and faculty chair of the all-new Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist program.