OP, you’re not crazy. I’m not Asian but I am small boned and about your height. My entire life, I ate a lot, didn’t diet at all, and my baseline weight was about 100 pounds. This is the weight that I feel my best. But when I started getting older, I started having to watch what I eat for the first time. Right now I am at 110 and I have a gut. I want to get back down to 100 and get my energy back and feel really good about how I look. I understand that it’s all relative and many would be grateful to be my height and weight, but everyone’s body is different and it’s also okay for people who are smaller sizes to think about health.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke? If not, you need to see a therapist.

This is the attitude that led me to prediabetes and hormonal issues in the first place. Doctors look at me and assume I’m fine and assume I have good lifestyle habits. It’s common among those of Asian descent to be slim and still be prone to having fat around the organs and be at higher risk for Type II diabetes. I don’t need a therapist, I need advice about how to work further on my health.

np. +1 to you. I am in the same boat (so to speak). Non Asians don't get it.

Here's some info for you non Asians

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/06/08/1180880736/asian-americans-are-at-high-risk-for-diabetes-heres-what-can-help

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/12/23/372513157/being-thin-doesnt-spare-asian-americans-from-diabetes-risk

I was just like you. Even when I was 95lbs (I'm 5' and thin boned), I had a higher A1C. My endocrinologist said she has so many thin Asian patients

Have you taken a blood test to check your A1C? I check it at least once per year.

I have been able to control it with diet and exercise. My highest A1C was 5.9; lowest is 5.6.

I don't know how old you are but the older you get, the harder it will be to control it. I am 53, and I have to exercise and diet even more to maintain a <6.0 A1C level.

I think Asian females especially aren't good about lifting weights. I've been trying to do a bit more strength training these days. And cardio.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke? If not, you need to see a therapist.

This is the attitude that led me to prediabetes and hormonal issues in the first place. Doctors look at me and assume I’m fine and assume I have good lifestyle habits. It’s common among those of Asian descent to be slim and still be prone to having fat around the organs and be at higher risk for Type II diabetes. I don’t need a therapist, I need advice about how to work further on my health.

The best thing you can do is continue exercising moderately and limit sugar and simple carbs in your diet.

Get fasting insulin checked, optimal is under 5. If fasting insulin is low, so is your risk for diabetes and other metabolic diseases. OP, visceral fat is linked to cortisol and stress, I'd suggest looking into CBT or DBT to manage your health anxiety.

I found this really interesting, mentions a lot of research

The Root Cause Of Belly Fat - Truth About Sugar, Fruit, Alcohol, Honey & Stress | Dr. Robert Lustig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_E9bdkr5Qc

Anonymous wrote:Asians are on a different BMI scale: https://aadi.joslin.org/en/am-i-at-risk/asian-bmi-calculator

All you criticizing are ignorant. Unfortunately, so are most doctors.

Yes, and she is normal weight for an Asian, not overweight.