This ‘Hidden’ Body Fat May Matter More Than Your Weight
Key takeaways
- But a large imaging study of more than 11,000 adults suggests we may be looking in the wrong place.
- We've long known that excess body fat can contribute to metabolic dysfunction.
- Researchers analyzed MRI scans from over 11,000 generally healthy adults, measuring both IMAT and lean muscle mass.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Zhané Slambee May 10, 2026mindbodygreen editor By Zhané Slambee Image by Elizabeth Martin / Contributor May 10, 2026When it comes to metabolic health, we tend to focus on the number on the scale or the fat we can see. But a large imaging study of more than 11,000 adults suggests we may be looking in the wrong place. Fat stored within muscle tissue (not just around your midsection) appears to play a significant role in cardiometabolic risk, even in people who seem perfectly healthy.
We've long known that excess body fat can contribute to metabolic dysfunction. But not all fat is created equal, and where it's stored matters. This study set out to examine how fat deposited within muscle tissue, called intermuscular adipose tissue or IMAT, relates to markers of cardiometabolic health.
Researchers analyzed MRI scans from over 11,000 generally healthy adults, measuring both IMAT and lean muscle mass. They then looked at how these measurements correlated with blood pressure, blood sugar control, and cholesterol levels.