In the past I have blogged about how health isn’t strictly based on body size. In fact, you can be skinny and unhealthy.
Now a new study says that not everyone who is overweight is at risk of developing health problems. In other words, you can be carrying around extra pounds and still be healthy.
The term being given to these people is “metabolically healthy.” This means they don’t have high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes or a resistance to insulin. So their risk of death is no greater than another person at a healthy weight.
For whatever reason, unexplainable to the experts, some people who are overweight or obese have managed to avoid the chronic diseases that are most often linked to them. So despite how they look on the outside, their heart could be perfectly healthy.
Now before you go thinking, “Great! It doesn’t matter what I eat or if I exercise. My weight might not matter to my health.”
The study also found that despite being obese, these “metabolically healthy” people also exercised. So while the shape of their bodies might not show it, their cardiovascular system does.
This isn’t the norm, however. Most people who are carrying around extra weight do have an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer, hypertension and other serious medical conditions.
This brings me back to what I have been trying to say for a long time. Focus on health, not weight.
Being fit is one thing. Striving to look like a model or to fit into a size two dress might not be the best goals to shoot for. Instead, think about your heart and how you can make it healthy. Besides other lifestyle behaviors, exercise is one of the best gifts you can give to your health.
Related Articles:
Fitness Is Good for Your Health
Does a Fit Body Mean You Are Healthier?
Midlife Fitness Level May Predict Future Heart Health
Photo by earl53 in morgueFile