Is it Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit?
The other day, we found the following article on Mercola.com and thought it was really interesting. Check it out…
Is a person’s weight really a reliable indicator of overall health?
Some medical research is showing that it isn’t. Last week a report in The Archives of Internal Medicine compared weight and cardiovascular risk factors among a representative sample of more than 5,400 adults. Half of the overweight people and one-third of obese people in the study were “metabolically healthy.” That means that many overweight and obese adults may have healthy levels of “good” cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose.
At the same time, about one out of four slim people in the study actually had at least two cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with obesity.
Being overweight or obese is definitely linked with numerous health problems. Nonetheless, researchers found the proportion of overweight and obese people who are metabolically healthy surprising.
Several studies have shown that fitness, as determined by how a person performs on a treadmill, is a far better indicator of health than body mass index. Some research has indicated that people who are fat but can still keep up on treadmill tests have much lower heart risk than people who are slim and unfit.
At the same time, about one out of four slim people in the study actually had at least two cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with obesity.[more…]
Sources:
- New York Times August 18, 2008
- Archives of Internal Medicine August, 2008; 168(15):1617-1624
- Mercola.com
So what do YOU think? Is it better to be chubby and healthy or would you rather be slim and unfit?
No matter if you are slim, thick, or fat the important thing is to be Healthy! I encourage you not to follow what you see in fashion magazines or on television. Be You and be Healthy!!!!!
No matter what shape or size, if you are healthy and fit, you are on the right track. The important thing is to really find out if you actually are as healthy and fit as you think you are, no matter what your size or shape.