Why normal-weight people can be obese

A new, nine-year study by the Mayo Clinic found that even relatively thin people can suffer the ill effects of obesity.

They even came up with a name for it: "normal weight obesity." Researchers believe as many as 30 million Americans may fall into that category.

The problem stems from a body-mass index out of whack. When people have low muscle mass, and some fat, their muscle-to-fat ratio can mirror someone with much more muscle mass and a lot more body fat. And the health effects can be similar, including increased risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of familiar lifestyle diseases including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and so on, as well as an increased risk of heart disease.

The Mayo researchers pointed out that dieting to lose weight can make you lose both fat and muscle, and leave your muscle-to-fat ratio largely unchanged.

That's why the Spartan Diet is so perfect for anyone who wants total health. It's not a fad weight loss diet. Instead, it's a total transformation of the diet that normalizes weight, and boosts strength and muscle.