Even people with a normal waist size can have too much fat around their organs: about 1 in 4 men and 1 in 12 women in this study had this hidden fat, showing waist size alone isn't always reliable.

Scientific Claim

Among middle-aged adults with a normal waist circumference, approximately 22% of men and 8% of women have elevated visceral fat, suggesting waist circumference measurements may miss visceral obesity in some cases.

Original Statement

“22% of men and 8% of women with a normal waist circumference had high VAT”

From study:Patterns of Abdominal Fat Distribution

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The claim states a specific prevalence rate from the study's data, which is appropriate for an observational study. It correctly uses 'have' for prevalence and does not overstate causation.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Patterns of Abdominal Fat Distribution

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2009 Mar

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Patterns of Abdominal Fat Distribution

Score: 56

DOI: 10.2337/dc08-1359

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