Fit and Fat Not Possible?

SinomenJen
SinomenJen Posts: 262 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss

Replies

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited December 2015
    It looks like the suggestion is that fitness helps reduce risk in obese people a bit, but that obesity cancels out part of that risk reduction. It doesn't feel like a massive surprise, to be honest.

    (What about that weirder correlation, that aerobically unfit people were found to be more likely to die of trauma? My immediate thought is that maybe they're more clumsy/accident-prone & just bad with spatial awareness, which is maybe why they might not bother with e.g. running or cycling or what have you. I am guessing this because I'm sort of bad with space [but think fitness has helped with that a bit]).
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    edited December 2015
    From a different version of the news story:
    http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2015122120590048.html
    Men in the highest fifth of aerobic fitness had a 48 per cent lower risk of death from any cause compared with those in the lowest fifth. Stronger associations were observed for deaths related to suicide and abuse of alcohol and narcotics.

    Unexpectedly, the authors noted a strong association between low aerobic fitness and also deaths related to trauma. Co-author Peter Nordström has no explanation for this finding: "We could only speculate, but genetic factors could have influenced these associations given that aerobic fitness is under strong genetic control."

  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited December 2015
    RodaRose wrote: »
    This from co-author Peter Nordström
    http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2015122120590048.html
    Men in the highest fifth of aerobic fitness had a 48 per cent lower risk of death from any cause compared with those in the lowest fifth. Stronger associations were observed for deaths related to suicide and abuse of alcohol and narcotics. Unexpectedly, the authors noted a strong association between low aerobic fitness and also deaths related to trauma. Co-author Peter Nordström has no explanation for this finding: "We could only speculate, but genetic factors could have influenced these associations given that aerobic fitness is under strong genetic control."

    I did see that, but am scratching my brain to imagine what kind of genetic factors they think would come into it. Poor CV system (so, maybe, fitness-avoidant, because it's somehow aversive) --> some kind of coagulation problem (?? no idea! ) --> bleeding complications with trauma? It seems strange that there would be a high enough incidence (of this factor X, say it's something more probable [and real] than what I just made up) in a sample of the general population to find a significant correlation, no?

    (The "clumsy" factor was the first thing that came to my mind, just because of my own experience of having been a lifelong clutz, and having avoided fitness in the early part of my life (because it felt so unpleasant and I was so bad at it), and seeing that my reflexes, physical confidence, and general spatial awareness slightly improved once I did get past my issues and into fitness. I mean I do keep injuring myself but I think I could probably dodge a truck more quickly than I would have before. I realize this is a stretch too, haha! Although there are studies showing that cardiovascular exercise improves memory & all kinds of other cognitive functions. Still a stretch, I know.)

    Sorry for the derail. The main finding makes sense to me.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    So unless I misunderstood, the studies conclusion was that being obese has increased risks, being fit and fat doesn't eliminate the risks of being fat.

    So basically what everyone except the more extreme healthy at every size and fat acceptance activists already believed?
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,452 Member
    tomatoey wrote: »
    RodaRose wrote: »
    This from co-author Peter Nordström
    http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2015122120590048.html
    Men in the highest fifth of aerobic fitness had a 48 per cent lower risk of death from any cause compared with those in the lowest fifth. Stronger associations were observed for deaths related to suicide and abuse of alcohol and narcotics. Unexpectedly, the authors noted a strong association between low aerobic fitness and also deaths related to trauma. Co-author Peter Nordström has no explanation for this finding: "We could only speculate, but genetic factors could have influenced these associations given that aerobic fitness is under strong genetic control."

    I did see that, but am scratching my brain to imagine what kind of genetic factors they think would come into it. Poor CV system (so, maybe, fitness-avoidant, because it's somehow aversive) --> some kind of coagulation problem (?? no idea! ) --> bleeding complications with trauma? It seems strange that there would be a high enough incidence (of this factor X, say it's something more probable [and real] than what I just made up) in a sample of the general population to find a significant correlation, no?

    (The "clumsy" factor was the first thing that came to my mind, just because of my own experience of having been a lifelong clutz, and having avoided fitness in the early part of my life (because it felt so unpleasant and I was so bad at it), and seeing that my reflexes, physical confidence, and general spatial awareness slightly improved once I did get past my issues and into fitness. I mean I do keep injuring myself but I think I could probably dodge a truck more quickly than I would have before. I realize this is a stretch too, haha! Although there are studies showing that cardiovascular exercise improves memory & all kinds of other cognitive functions. Still a stretch, I know.)

    Sorry for the derail. The main finding makes sense to me.

    The spatial awareness and fitness approach would make some sense to me. We all have varied abilities in the spatial awareness thing, but if you took a gymnast and added more fat to them certainly their abilities of balance and such would be affected, even if their sense of spatial awareness remained the same. Having a lean solid mass is what would help them calculate and control high balance required movements better. Add some jiggle factor and the results might quickly change.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,086 Member
    I believe so. I just look at NFL linemen and am in awe of their speed, power, stamina and size.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    robertw486 wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    RodaRose wrote: »
    This from co-author Peter Nordström
    http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2015122120590048.html
    Men in the highest fifth of aerobic fitness had a 48 per cent lower risk of death from any cause compared with those in the lowest fifth. Stronger associations were observed for deaths related to suicide and abuse of alcohol and narcotics. Unexpectedly, the authors noted a strong association between low aerobic fitness and also deaths related to trauma. Co-author Peter Nordström has no explanation for this finding: "We could only speculate, but genetic factors could have influenced these associations given that aerobic fitness is under strong genetic control."

    I did see that, but am scratching my brain to imagine what kind of genetic factors they think would come into it. Poor CV system (so, maybe, fitness-avoidant, because it's somehow aversive) --> some kind of coagulation problem (?? no idea! ) --> bleeding complications with trauma? It seems strange that there would be a high enough incidence (of this factor X, say it's something more probable [and real] than what I just made up) in a sample of the general population to find a significant correlation, no?

    (The "clumsy" factor was the first thing that came to my mind, just because of my own experience of having been a lifelong clutz, and having avoided fitness in the early part of my life (because it felt so unpleasant and I was so bad at it), and seeing that my reflexes, physical confidence, and general spatial awareness slightly improved once I did get past my issues and into fitness. I mean I do keep injuring myself but I think I could probably dodge a truck more quickly than I would have before. I realize this is a stretch too, haha! Although there are studies showing that cardiovascular exercise improves memory & all kinds of other cognitive functions. Still a stretch, I know.)

    Sorry for the derail. The main finding makes sense to me.

    The spatial awareness and fitness approach would make some sense to me. We all have varied abilities in the spatial awareness thing, but if you took a gymnast and added more fat to them certainly their abilities of balance and such would be affected, even if their sense of spatial awareness remained the same. Having a lean solid mass is what would help them calculate and control high balance required movements better. Add some jiggle factor and the results might quickly change.

    Ah, you mean like their centre of balance would be affected? Maybe! I thought that correlation was between cardiovascular fitness and death by trauma irrespective of weight, but it wasn't specified further, would be interesting to see. (I'm thinking of it in terms of cardiovascularly unfit people not being able to respond to the kinds of threats that cause fatal trauma as well as others, via e.g. delayed reaction times or poorly coordinated responses, which might in some way be related to their lack of fitness. Or maybe they just can't outrun tigers or dodge trucks and would be the first to die in a zombie apocalypse. But this is far off from the point I think the OP (and study) wanted to look at :/)
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    edited December 2015
    Merkavar wrote: »
    So unless I misunderstood, the studies conclusion was that being obese has increased risks, being fit and fat doesn't eliminate the risks of being fat.

    So basically what everyone except the more extreme healthy at every size and fat acceptance activists already believed?

    Maybe I misunderstood, but what I got from it is that a fit fat person is still at a higher mortality risk then normal weight individuals regardless of fitness levels.

    lt's challenging the idea (rationale) that a fit obese person is less at risk than an unfit normal weight person. Like the idea that being "skinny fat" is worse than being literally obese but "fit". They seem to be saying, no, if you're obese you're at greater risk than people of normal weight, full stop.

  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Merkavar wrote: »
    So unless I misunderstood, the studies conclusion was that being obese has increased risks, being fit and fat doesn't eliminate the risks of being fat.

    So basically what everyone except the more extreme healthy at every size and fat acceptance activists already believed?

    Maybe I misunderstood, but what I got from it is that a fit fat person is still at a higher mortality risk then normal weight individuals regardless of fitness levels.

    lt's challenging the idea (rationale) that a fit obese person is less at risk than an unfit normal weight person. Like the idea that being "skinny fat" is worse than being literally obese but "fit". They seem to be saying, no, if you're obese you're at greater risk than people of normal weight, full stop.

    The medical term for "skinnyfat" is MONW - Metabolically obese, normal weight. People at what would be considered a "healthy" weight, but with bodyfat levels of an obese person. Research has indicated that such people have risk factors similar to clinically obese people. So while being fit and fat carries risks, so does being skinny and unfit.
  • Ashtoretet
    Ashtoretet Posts: 378 Member
    Everyone dies, so saying that death is an outcome of obesity is disingenuous. What would be more helpful is to know what things obesity does to a body that it would be free of at a healthy weight. Real proof of it and not just educated guesses.

    Even with my own body, I can't say what things have been improved because of weight loss because good things keep happening simultaneously. I don't know the true cause of any, or if it's been a combined effect. Is my depression better because I'm a healthy weight, or because I think I look better? Do I have more energy because I lost weight, or because my new job is less stressful? I'll never know definitively.
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,452 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    I believe so. I just look at NFL linemen and am in awe of their speed, power, stamina and size.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    We were watching some science show and they used an obstacle similar to what a lineman might do. Forget who it was but they had a lineman compare to a pretty fit "normal" guy, and the changes of direction were freaking amazing. I'd say most lightweights couldn't even change direction at that rate, and for a bigger person even harder.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    JenCOPD wrote: »

    I think it is just verifying common sense. The only people I have seen support the "fat but fit" claim are obese. To me is no different than a smoker claiming he/she is fine chain smoking because he/she jogs.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited December 2015
    So basically overweight (but not obese) and fit Swede remains the lowest risk group.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    So basically overweight (but not obese) and fit Swede remains the lowest risk group.

    I want to say apart from risk of suicide but I think their rates have finally decreased
  • Wow. That's crazy. Thanks for sharing.

    Never thought of linebackers before.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    So basically overweight (but not obese) and fit Swede remains the lowest risk group.

    I want to say apart from risk of suicide but I think their rates have finally decreased

    Well, the study didn't cover Finland.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    robertw486 wrote: »
    tomatoey wrote: »
    RodaRose wrote: »
    This from co-author Peter Nordström
    http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2015122120590048.html
    Men in the highest fifth of aerobic fitness had a 48 per cent lower risk of death from any cause compared with those in the lowest fifth. Stronger associations were observed for deaths related to suicide and abuse of alcohol and narcotics. Unexpectedly, the authors noted a strong association between low aerobic fitness and also deaths related to trauma. Co-author Peter Nordström has no explanation for this finding: "We could only speculate, but genetic factors could have influenced these associations given that aerobic fitness is under strong genetic control."

    I did see that, but am scratching my brain to imagine what kind of genetic factors they think would come into it. Poor CV system (so, maybe, fitness-avoidant, because it's somehow aversive) --> some kind of coagulation problem (?? no idea! ) --> bleeding complications with trauma? It seems strange that there would be a high enough incidence (of this factor X, say it's something more probable [and real] than what I just made up) in a sample of the general population to find a significant correlation, no?

    (The "clumsy" factor was the first thing that came to my mind, just because of my own experience of having been a lifelong clutz, and having avoided fitness in the early part of my life (because it felt so unpleasant and I was so bad at it), and seeing that my reflexes, physical confidence, and general spatial awareness slightly improved once I did get past my issues and into fitness. I mean I do keep injuring myself but I think I could probably dodge a truck more quickly than I would have before. I realize this is a stretch too, haha! Although there are studies showing that cardiovascular exercise improves memory & all kinds of other cognitive functions. Still a stretch, I know.)

    Sorry for the derail. The main finding makes sense to me.

    The spatial awareness and fitness approach would make some sense to me. We all have varied abilities in the spatial awareness thing, but if you took a gymnast and added more fat to them certainly their abilities of balance and such would be affected, even if their sense of spatial awareness remained the same. Having a lean solid mass is what would help them calculate and control high balance required movements better. Add some jiggle factor and the results might quickly change.

    Except the study says a little giggle is good. Whoops.
  • tomteboda
    tomteboda Posts: 2,171 Member
    So basically overweight (but not obese) and fit Swede remains the lowest risk group.

    So, basically, me.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    So basically overweight (but not obese) and fit Swede remains the lowest risk group.

    So, basically, me.

    Wrong stuff in the shorts.
    The study was about men.
  • tomteboda
    tomteboda Posts: 2,171 Member
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .

    quote-life-s-like-a-play-it-s-not-the-length-but-the-excellence-of-the-acting-that-matters-lucius-annaeus-seneca-167204.jpg


  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    robertw486 wrote: »
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    I believe so. I just look at NFL linemen and am in awe of their speed, power, stamina and size.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    We were watching some science show and they used an obstacle similar to what a lineman might do. Forget who it was but they had a lineman compare to a pretty fit "normal" guy, and the changes of direction were freaking amazing. I'd say most lightweights couldn't even change direction at that rate, and for a bigger person even harder.

    So they had someone who literally does this (possibly for a living) multiple times per week against someone who doesn't. What an insight.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .

    quote-life-s-like-a-play-it-s-not-the-length-but-the-excellence-of-the-acting-that-matters-lucius-annaeus-seneca-167204.jpg


    She who has the last word wins

    :bigsmile:
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    JenCOPD wrote: »

    it's behind a paywall, but if "fitness" is defined as VO2max or similar ml O2/min/kg body weight then the large body weight people will tend to have lower values purely because of the statistic. If you keep the same aerobic capacity in absolute terms and put on a lot of weight the VO2max falls.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .

    quote-life-s-like-a-play-it-s-not-the-length-but-the-excellence-of-the-acting-that-matters-lucius-annaeus-seneca-167204.jpg


    Is that Dr. Evil?

    Drevil_million_dollars.jpg
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Obese = bad
    Overweight = mixed; some studies have shown better longevity
    Fit = good

    So, yeah, I do think you can be fit and fat if fat is defined as overweight vs. obese as used here.

    Sadly in the obese range right now. Had a stress test, cardiologist was impressed with my results...excellent for my age. Does it matter? Maybe not, but I sure feel better fit vs. not fit, so there is that quality of life thing.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,086 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .
    That's only because men tire of nagging. :D

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    tomteboda wrote: »
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .
    That's only because men tire of nagging. :D

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    Maybe if people did what they said would do within the time frame they said they would do it, there would be no reminders to define as nagging any more

    8d7e4a85f36dc4c4df0d65dc1653e476.jpg
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    tomteboda wrote: »
    Women live longer than men anyway, @EvgeniZyntx .
    That's only because men tire of nagging. :D

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    Lol, I thought you guys just zone us out
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Grandpa just turned down his hearing aid. He lived longer.
This discussion has been closed.