They said I was pretty but needed to lose weight

Even though she had been seeing an endocrinologist for two years, Bruna Unzueta was not prepared to take care of herself. She was not prioritizing herself or dedicating to treatment, which worsened her health. The problem was not the number on the scale, but the consequences of excess weight on her body. At 30 years old, not eating well or exercising, she felt like she was just surviving. ‘The number meant almost nothing, but I was not healthy at all. My visceral fat index was 16, which is serious and can lead to metabolic diseases,’ she said. ‘This type of fat is more linked to cardiovascular diseases and secondary issues caused by excess weight. Sometimes, even if weight is not high, having a high visceral fat index increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even some types of cancer,’ explained Dr. Ricardo Barroso, an endocrinologist and director of SBEM-SP (Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism — São Paulo Chapter). According to him, having a visceral fat level above 13 on the bioimpedance scale is a warning sign. ‘To tackle this issue, it is essential to improve the quality of diet and engage in strength training, which promotes muscle mass gain and insulin resistance. Some medications for diabetes and obesity can also help reduce this fat,’ Dr. Barroso recommended.