Obese woman,coloured magnetic resonance (MRI) scan. This coronal scan,vertically through the body,has revealed the internal organs and tissues,including the bones,muscles,and layers of fat. The brain is seen in the head,and in the torso the intestines,liver,heart and lungs are seen. Here,the liver (triangular,upper left) is enlarged and the lungs are compressed in comparison to the organs shown on the equivalent scans of a woman who is not overweight. The extra body weight present in obese patients puts a strain on the heart and lungs. For a set of MRI scans of a thin woman,see images C007/2250 to C007/2257 |