Why 'Fatty Muscles' Could be a Hidden Threat to Your Heart
When it comes to heart health, we've long been warned that our fitness levels, as well as our body fat stores, are key indicators to monitor. But new research, published in the European Heart Journal, highlights a hidden risk that could be quietly undermining our cardiovascular health: fat stored inside our muscles.
Unlike subcutaneous fat that sits under the skin, or visceral fat that's packed around our organs, this ‘intermuscular’ fat (IMAT) infiltrates muscle tissue itself, and the latest findings suggest it may significantly increase risk of heart attacks and heart failure – regardless of other measures such as weight, waist circumference, or BMI.
The Study
A team of researchers at the University of Copenhagen analysed data from over 2,500 individuals, using advanced imaging techniques to measure the amount of fat lurking within their muscle tissues. They found that participants with higher levels of intermuscular fat faced a significantly increased risk of serious heart conditions such as coronary artery disease and heart failure, even if their overall BMI fell within a healthy range.
The study’s lead author, Dr Anders Grøntved, explained: 'While BMI has traditionally been used as a marker of cardiovascular risk, our study highlights that it doesn’t tell the whole story. Fat stored inside muscle tissue appears to be an independent risk factor for heart disease, likely contributing to systemic inflammation and metabolic disturbances.'
What does that mean in simple terms? You could look lean on the outside but still be carrying harmful fat inside your muscles – fat that could be quietly raising your chances of heart disease.
What Does This Mean For Us?
For years, the focus has been on reducing body fat through exercise and diet, and look, this is still the best strategy for all-round health. What this study underscores is the need to also consider what’s happening beneath the surface. Intermuscular fat accumulation is often seen in people with sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, and even those who appear otherwise fit but neglect resistance training. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which can be relatively benign, this deeper fat can impair muscle function, promote insulin resistance, and create chronic inflammation – three major factors in heart disease development.
What’s even more concerning is that standard weight measurements won’t pick it up. Someone with a ‘healthy’ weight could still have dangerously high levels of muscle fat, making it a silent but significant risk factor.
The Bottom Line
This research is a wake-up call for anyone who still believes that simply looking ‘in shape’ is a guarantee of health. Muscle composition matters as much as body weight, and focusing purely on scale numbers isn't enough to safeguard your heart. Instead, it's crucial to pay attention to your health and body composition holistically, through a broad range of measures including strength training, aerobic exercise, a mindful diet and lowering stress, as well as regular check-ups that look beyond BMI.
Although this research doesn't necessarily approach how you should approach your health (you should be hitting all of the above beats already), the study's findings make one thing clear: when it comes to heart health, it’s not just about how much fat you hav, but where it’s hiding.
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