For years parents have been telling their obese children it’s what’s on the inside that counts. If that is really true, then a considerable number of thin people could be in trouble. According to data published by Imaging at Imperial College, London, UK, “people who maintain their weight through diet rather than exercise are likely to have major deposits of internal fat, even if they are otherwise slim.”

Of the lean adults with normal Body Mass Index readings who participated in the imaging scan study, 45% of the women and 60% of the men had excessive levels of internal fat streaking through their vital muscles and organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas and so forth. Doctors suspect that this contributes to the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

For years experts have known that “fat, active people can be healthier than their skinny, inactive counterparts.” The positive news is that we can burn off internal fat. What exercises are good for your health? I’ll tell you what I tell my diet coaching clients: Any exercise that keeps you actively moving more, longer and consistently is exercise to do. More positive news is that improving the diet also can help eliminate the undesirable internal fat. If you want actually for your children to stay within a healthy weight range, then  exercise and improved diet have to be components of obese children’s lifestyle.