Hormonal

South Asians exhibit increased adipocyte area (hypertrophy) compared to white Caucasians, which drives ectopic fat deposition in the liver and metabolic risk factors (insulin resistance, low HDL, low adiponectin) independent of overall BMI.

If you are of South Asian descent, standard BMI cutoffs may not reflect your metabolic risk. Even at a 'normal' weight, you may have enlarged fat cells (hypertrophy) that overflow into your liver, increasing your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Focus on preventing fat cell enlargement through diet and exercise, and consider screening for fatty liver and insulin resistance earlier than standard guidelines might suggest for other ethnicities.