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[NPR] Being Thin Doesn’t Spare Asian Americans From Diabetes Risk

December 26, 2014
(Yonhap)

(Yonhap)

[NPR]

We know that you can be fat while still fit, but how about skinny and unhealthy? This may be the case for many Asian Americans who look slim, but actually face a higher risk of diabetes than people belonging to other ethnic groups.

As a result, Asian Americans should consider getting tested for diabetes at a lower body mass index than previously recommended, according to new guidelines published Tuesday by the American Diabetes Association.

The old guidelines didn’t take race and ethnicity into account, suggesting all adults with a body mass index, or BMI, of 25 (considered overweight) be tested for diabetes. The new guidelines lower the bar for Asian Americans, saying testing should begin at 23.

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