Fitness Coach: ‘Skinny People Can Be Unhealthy’ — 8 Lab Tests That Matter More Than Waistline

In an August 30 Instagram post, fitness coach Dan Go emphasized that physical appearance alone does not reflect overall health, urging people to focus on internal health metrics instead. He highlighted that a person’s weight or body shape may not accurately indicate metabolic health.

“Your scale is lying to you. Your blood tells the truth,” Dan wrote. He shared examples of “skinny” individuals with poor metabolic health and “overweight” people who were metabolically fit. “Your mirror shows your outside. Your labs show your inside. One matters way more than the other. Save this list. Get tested. Know your numbers. Because you can’t fix what you don’t measure,” he added.

Dan listed eight key lab tests he believes predict future health better than body size:

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC): Measures red and white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin, revealing anemia, infection, immune status, and cancer risk.

2. Hemoglobin A1C: Reflects average blood sugar over 2–3 months, indicating diabetes and related complications.

3. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Assesses liver, kidney, electrolytes, and blood sugar, detecting imbalances before symptoms arise.

4. High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP): Measures inflammation, signaling risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

5. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB): Tracks artery-clogging particles, providing a better prediction of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol.

6. Vitamin D Levels: Low levels affect bones, immunity, mood, and cancer risk.

7. Functional Hormone Panel: Evaluates sex, adrenal, thyroid, and sleep hormones, which influence energy, weight, and recovery.

8. Alzheimer’s Blood Test (PrecivityAD2™): Detects early risk for Alzheimer’s with 90% accuracy.

Dan advised getting these tests through a GP or functional health clinic, recommending six-month intervals for those in poor health and yearly checks for healthy individuals.

“Most people obsess over weight, but the real predictors of disease, aging, and early death are hidden in your blood,” he concluded.