Skinny Does Not Mean Cholesterol-Free, Here's the Explanation from a Doctor

JAKARTA - Not a few people still think that a thin body is synonymous with a healthy condition. This assumption makes some people feel no need to worry about diseases that have long been synonymous with overweight, one of which is high cholesterol.

In fact, the reality is not always like that. High cholesterol can be experienced by anyone, including those who have normal body weight or even tend to be thin. This means that body shape is not the only benchmark to assess a person's health.

Heart and vascular specialist from the Indonesian Association of Cardiovascular Specialists (PERKI), Dr. dr. Susetyo Atmojo, explained that there are various factors that can cause a person's cholesterol levels to increase even though their body looks slim.

"There are many factors that cause thin people to have high cholesterol. Not only because of the diet, but also influenced by hereditary factors or fat distribution in the body," said Dr. Susetyo in a Daewoong press conference with PERKI with the topic Thin Does Not Mean Safe: High Cholesterol Does Not Look at Weight. in Jakarta, recently.

One of the causes that often escapes attention is genetic factors. This condition, known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), is an inherited disorder that keeps LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol high from birth.

According to dr. Susetyo, people with FH can have high cholesterol levels even if they are not overweight.

"This condition can be caused by genetic factors. Even though his body is thin, LDL cholesterol levels can still be high," he said.

In addition to hereditary factors, eating patterns still play an important role. The habit of eating foods high in saturated fat and trans fat, such as fried foods or processed foods, can trigger an increase in LDL cholesterol levels.

If it lasts in the long term, this condition can accelerate the formation of plaque in blood vessels which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Not only that, a lifestyle with minimal physical activity can also be a cause of high cholesterol in thin people. Lack of exercise makes the metabolism of fat in the body not run optimally so that bad cholesterol levels are more easily increased.

Another thing that is often not realized is the presence of central obesity or the accumulation of visceral fat in the abdominal cavity. This condition can occur in someone with a body mass index that is still considered normal so that it is not always visible from the physical appearance.

"Don't just look at the numbers on the scales. It could be normal weight, but there is a lot of fat in the abdominal cavity," he said.

In the Asian population, central obesity is generally characterized by a waist circumference of more than 90 centimeters in men and more than 80 centimeters in women. The accumulation of fat in this abdominal area is known to be closely related to the increased risk of metabolic disorders, including high cholesterol, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Therefore, maintaining body weight alone is not enough to protect yourself from the risk of high cholesterol. A balanced diet, regular exercise, limiting the consumption of high-saturated fat foods, and regularly checking cholesterol levels remain an important step to maintain heart health.

Regular check-ups are becoming increasingly important for those who have a history of heart disease or high cholesterol in the family.

"When we know the health condition early, treatment can be done faster before high cholesterol triggers more serious complications," he said.