Patient Question

Am I metabolically healthy?

You can have a normal weight and normal labs and still be on a path toward metabolic disease. Metabolic health is about how well your body manages energy, fuel, and fitness — and several of its most important markers aren't part of a standard checkup.

What metabolic health really means

It's the capacity to handle the fuel you eat without rising insulin, growing fat stores, or losing fitness. Researchers estimate only a minority of adults are truly metabolically healthy — many of them at “normal” weights — because the early signs are invisible on routine testing.

Markers we measure

Body composition — visceral fat and muscle mass matter more than weight. Measured by DEXA.
Insulin and glucose handling — to catch insulin resistance years early.
Cardiorespiratory fitness — among the strongest predictors of long-term health, measured by CPET.
Resting metabolic rate and metabolic flexibility — how efficiently you burn fuel.

The point is prevention

Most metabolic disease develops silently over a decade. Measuring early means small, durable changes now instead of medications later.

The NorthStar approach

How NorthStar approaches metabolic health

We build a complete metabolic picture — composition, fitness, and fuel handling — and translate it into a clear answer: where you stand, what's trending, and the one or two changes that move you most. Then we track it over time through longitudinal care.

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Common questions

Frequently asked

I'm a normal weight — can I still be metabolically unhealthy?

Yes. “Normal weight but metabolically unhealthy” is well described — often driven by low muscle, excess visceral fat, or insulin resistance that weight alone doesn't reveal.

Which single test matters most?

There isn't one. Metabolic health is a picture built from body composition, fitness, and fuel handling together — which is why we measure all three.

How often should this be re-checked?

For most people, periodically over the year — often enough to see trends and confirm that changes are working, without over-testing.

Understand what is limiting you.

Not all services are available yet. Telehealth appointments are anticipated to begin in late November 2026 for select patients. Please contact our office for additional information regarding eligibility and availability. In-person appointments and diagnostic testing are planned to begin in January 2027 at our Edina clinic.

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