Scientific Skinny Fat MRI Study – Proving What Skinny Fat Is

There is only one way to definitely prove what skinny fat (lack of genetic muscle) is, a proper IRB protocol (1, 2) scientific MRI study focused on specific body composition scans. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)(3, 4, 5) machine is the only technology capable — MR spectroscopy (6, 7, 11), Dixon Imaging (8, 9, 10), T2-weighted (9, 10, 11), etc. — of accurately measuring muscle tissue. No, BMI, LBM, and other anthropometrics do not (34, 35, 36) measure muscle.

Right now, there is no way to scientifically measure total genetic muscle tissue, or total muscle tissue, in general, no baseline average to compare such a measurement to, and no way to measure genetic muscle deficiency  — what our science calls skinny fat (12). Total muscle tissue reflects the muscle a person has today, including muscle added or lost through diet, exercise, and/or lifestyle (sleep, stress, environment). In contrast, total genetic muscle tissue represents the baseline muscle a person was genetically programmed to develop.

Scientific Skinny Fat MRI Study – Proving What Skinny Fat It Is

For instance, see this professional trainer’s (middle picture) lower back and love handles:

They have no visceral fat/belly fat, no excess body fat (white/yellow fat) at a safe BMI of 22.7, and no low muscle mass — all supposed signs of skinny fat according to Google and nearly everyone everywhere. Yet, they have obvious “weird fat” tissue on their lower back and love handles:

No process exists in the human body that would cause that person’s muscle tissue on their love handles and lower back to turn into any kind of fat tissue. This is not how human tissue works (13, 14, 15, 16).

According to our theory, that “weird fat” (subcutaneous) is unique genetic skinny fat tissue (thin fat)(12) that exists where genetic default muscle tissue should be but is not.

Classic Case of Normal-Weight Obesity (Skinny Fat)

Research Participant 1170 (31) started at a safe BMI of 24.6 with obvious normal-weight obesity. 

They safely lost more regular fat weight down to a safe BMI of 21.3 and the normal-weight obesity remains. The thin fat and cellulite (types of skinny fat) where genetic muscle tissue should be are obvious as well, and remain throughout.

What if Research Participant 1170 were to reduce their regular white/yellow body fat to an underweight BMI of 18.49 or less?

Would the thin fat and cellulite go away? No, it would not — there is no FDA-approved way to get rid of cellulite or thin fat, you can only reduce it. And like this person (20) who lost weight down to a BMI of 8, any eating disorder person eventually learns and can tell you that you cannot starve away skinny fat (lack of genetic muscle). You can technically lose 100% of your regular white/yellow fat, yet your skinny fat (lack of genetic muscle, IE thin fat and/or cellulite) will remain down to any BMI. But they would no longer be normal-weight obese. 

What if Research Participant 1170 were to increase their regular white/yellow body fat to an overweight BMI of 25+ or 30+ obese?

Would the thin fat and cellulite go away? No, it would not. Again, at this time, no FDA-approved way exists to get rid of cellulite or thin fat, you can only reduce it. Their skinny fat (lack of genetic muscle) would remain up to any BMI. But they would no longer be normal-weight obese. Yet, they are still experiencing skinny fat (lack fo genetic muscle, IE thin fat, cellulite).

Skinny fat is so much more complex than the initial 2016 NIH definition (30). Science is ever-evolving and things become more clear as more data, evidence, and facts roll in. 

What Is A Normal/Average Human Body?

According to mainstream science/medicine, every human being is born is an “average/normal” standard human body with all 600+ muscles fully developed (17) with general uniform body composition relative to height,– AKA the Standard Body Type One (BT1) — unless they are diagnosed with some abnormality, and even then they are still a Standard BT1, just with a specific diagnosis. The only reason you do not look like a Standard BT1 is because you are eating too many calories above Standard BMR, taking you outside of safe Standard BMI (18.5 to 24.99) due to excess regular white/yellow body fat (common adipose tissue) (12). Stop overeating, lose the excess regular fat weight, and voila, you are once again a Standard BT1.

But, our research shows this is simply not true; all human beings are not born in a Standard Body Type One. Some people are born with more muscle tissue, and some with less. Those born with less are likely experiencing some degree of skinny fat. But with no scientific dataset or accurate way to measure total genetic muscle tissue, or total muscle tissue, in general, no baseline average to compare such a measurement to, and no way to measure genetic muscle deficiency (skinny fat), there is no way to know what is what.

Our MRI Study develops the first-ever accurate dataset to scientifically and accurately measure total genetic muscle tissue — total muscle tissue, in general — develop a baseline average to compare such a measurement to, and allow for the identification of genetic muscle deficiency (in terms of a scientific measurement).

Overview Protocol, Scientific Skinny Fat MRI Study

This is the MRI Study hypothesis.

A university(s) with the proper MRI scan technology(s) and a robust enough student body is required. We need no less than 100 scans for viable data, but 200 to 850 is best — the more we can do, the stronger the dataset. Major hurdles include the fact that MRI scans are very expensive and availability is tricky.

1 – A university with ~40,000 to 60,000 students (ages 18–22, up to 25), carefully screened using already built screen tools, offers an estimated BT1 prevalence of a 30% yields ~12,000 to 18,000 BT1‑eligible individuals. A 400‑scan BT1 cohort  — like Research Participant 1000 (19) and Research Participant 1088 (20) — represents only ~.022 to 0.033 of the student population — well within feasible recruitment range. They are then scanned via an accurate measurement protocol, including reproducible positioning, calibration, artifact control, scanner‑variance management, and QC automation. 

2 – Each official MRI scan (data) will be securely populated in the Clinical Technilogy Interface (CTI) to be analyzed and reviewed by a qualified, expert MD radiologist – three is best (they are very expensive) for the most accurate data/results.

3 – Via the CTI, all scientific MRI data will then be properly analyzed, extrapolated, and processed by a qualified, expert data scientist(s) – three is best (they are very expensive) for the most accurate data/results.

4 – The resulting dataset offers a baseline average for comparison, and a way to identify (scientific measurement) deficient genetic muscle tissue (skinny fat), which will allow for no less than high‑fidelity phenotyping for metabolic and aging research, reproducible measurement tools for clinical and scientific communities, and a durable public‑benefit resource for global health.

5 – Peer-review submission and review.

Study Goals & Further Details – MRI Dataset

*Provide the accurate muscle tissue dataset to help scientific researchers develop the first-ever official way to diagnose deficient genetic muscle — skinny fat (as of November 2025, there is no official way for medical doctors to diagnose it)(12) – this includes developing the first ever way to measure total genetic muscle tissue and the first ever total genetic muscle tissue average baseline in which to compare the total genetic muscle tissue measurement (neither of those measurements exist at this time — ask your medical doctor for your total genetic muscle tissue measurement and if you are average, above average, or below average — and if you are experiencing any skinny fat/deficient genetic muscle — is this the same as below average genetic muscle tissue, or can one be below average and not be experiencing skinny fat; perhaps like Josh Duhamel and Topher Grace?)

*Mitigate the skinny fat crisis (21, 22, 23, 24, 29)

*Mitigate the obesity epidemic (24, 25, 29)

*Mitigate the mental health crisis (26, 27, 28, 29) including body dysmorphia and eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder/BED, etc.) among girls/young females and males, no less

*Improve overall human health globally, particularly by helping people understand what genetic muscle deficiency (skinny fat) is and the best diet, exercise, and lifestyle to manage it

*Galvanize scientific development to accurately predict injury risk in athletes, at least, which helps with sports recruiting, no less (if a player lacks genetic muscle tissue, they lack relative strength, no less, which can equate to a higher risk of injury – as well, it can equate to proactive risk management to reduce the risk of injury)

*Provide the average person/anyone a safe, private, anonymous, secure, cost-effective, user-friendly, easy-access online way to accurately determine their body composition — particularly skinny fat — without an expensive or hard-to-access MRI scan

Within IRB protocol, we would also like to utilize social media to mitigate misinformation and disinformation, which is widespread. Moreover, the MRI Study will help clarify Google searches by influencing rankings and AI.

Summary

We have initially chosen Option 3 because it is the most cost‑effective and efficient way to establish the first baseline of total genetic muscle tissue. (We are flexible and open to other options.)

The 18–25 age window is a plausible developmental range used in the literature (32, 33), but it is supported by limited real‑world data. It is a practical starting point, not a validated biological fact.

Option 3 — Ages 18–25 (Chosen Approach)

Scan healthy adults aged 18–25, a broad developmental window commonly treated as the period in which muscle is likely to be fully developed. This range is a working estimate, supported by indirect evidence but not confirmed by direct MRI‑based research.

Requires a minimum of 100 females and 100 males (400-850 total preferred).

Most flexible and lowest cost, and avoids committing to precise maturity ages that have never been empirically validated.

———————

Option 2 — Narrow Age Bands at Conventional Maturity Estimates

Scan females at ~20 and males at ~25, ages often assumed to represent full genetic muscle development.

Requires the same sample sizes as Option 3.

However, this design significantly restricts the eligible participant pool, likely making recruitment more difficult and likely requiring access to a larger university‑aged population to meet enrollment targets.

Scientifically appealing but relies on specific, unproven assumptions about when full development actually occurs.

———————

Option 1 — Longitudinal Study From Infancy to Adulthood

Enroll infants at ~1 year old and scan every 6–12 months until age 20+.

Requires 1,000+ participants and multi‑decade funding.

Scientifically ideal for determining the true developmental curve, but prohibitively expensive and operationally unrealistic.

If you would like to help, please spread the word, comment below, and consider a donation.

Skinny Fat Is More Than Just Normal-Weight Obesity (Hypothesis)

References

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