A study out of Britain suggests that individuals who appear thin may be storing fat around their organs that can lead to the same health problems suffered by those who are obese. Researchers at Imperial College in London, England have conducted MRI scans on approximately 800 people and found that some who appeared thin were actually storing fat around their internal organs.

Researchers determined that people who ate unhealthy diets and did not exercise remained thin largely because they ate small amounts of food. Unfortunately, the fat wasn’t being burned off; it was actually being stored internally. Even people who had Body Mass Index readings that were considered healthy were found to have deposits of fat around their organs, which could make them just as susceptible to serious health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, as individuals who are obese. Experts say that internal fat can be eliminated through a healthy diet and regular exercise.