Health at any Size load of crap right?

Lozze

I had a 'Healthy Heart Check' at work today. This is something my work does every year. Considering I've lost over 35kg since last year I've clearly improved in every measurable way. (except body fat. It had me at 1% more. I laughed and disregarded it. Might go to my doctor for skin fold test)

The one that I found fascinating (and was thrilled at!) was my resting heart rate. They did my blood pressure first, then took it. The reaction I got was WOOOOOW. It got taken again. She told me it was 57. According to her chart this put me in the 'athlete' range for fitness. This obviously thrilled me and I haven't been able to keep the smile off my face all day!

So based on that info I'd obviously be a healthy BMI, and look like an athlete right? If you can see my profile pic and ticker, you can see that's obviously not right. I weigh 101.7kg (my 'official' weigh in. Their scale had me higher, but I'd just eaten lunch and different scales give different readings) My BMI is 36. (obese class 1) My body fat (that I am disregarding) is apparently 50% of my body weight. Yet I still have the resting heart rate of an athlete. I'm clearly a very fit person.

Now I'm not saying I don't need to continue to lose weight. Clearly I do. I still have a lot of weight to lose. (another 30kg to get into healthy BMI range) BUT don't take weight and BMI as the sole indicator of health. A person of any size can be fit. I can't wait to lose more weight and improve my fitness already!

edited to have correct info

mcarter99

This was a good book- Healthy at Every Size.

http://www.amazon.com/Health-At-Every-Size-Surprising/dp/1935618253

omma_to_3

At a BMI of 36, you're not usually considered "morbidly" obese. That typically starts at 40.

BMI Classification
18.5 or less Underweight Info Treatment
18.5 to 24.99 Normal Weight Info Treatment
25 to 29.99 Overweight Info Treatment
30 to 34.99 Obesity (Class 1) Info Treatment
35 to 39.99 Obesity (Class 2) Info Treatment
40 or greater Morbid Obesity Info Treatment

Jynus

Obese but exercise regularly will mean you'll suffer less health problems on average than someone who is normal range weight, but does no exercise. So there is some truth to it. That said, the best is still to exercise and be at a normal bodyfat range.

Oh, and you can lose 35kg and still maintain the same bodyfat level. your fat is no the only mass in your body that you can lose. specially if you only do cardio or no exercise at all.

Lozze

Thanks omma, have updated my original post.

Obese but exercise regularly will mean you'll suffer less health problems on average than someone who is normal range weight, but does no exercise. So there is some truth to it. That said, the best is still to exercise and be at a normal bodyfat range.

Oh, and you can lose 35kg and still maintain the same bodyfat level. your fat is no the only mass in your body that you can lose. specially if you only do cardio or no exercise at all.

Agree with you 100% on the first point. It's why I'm trying to still lose weight. I want to be the healthiest I possibly can be.

I've been doing weights throughout my weight loss. (not currently as I'm focusing on my scale weight for another 2kg)

BrianSharpe

Congrats on the great results.

People tend to fixate on the number on the scale a the sole indicator of health. You've proven, once again, that it's not the only measure. I'm still considered "overweight" but have a resting heart rate of 52, run 40km or more a week etc. In a perfect world I'd hit my ideal weight (and will eventually) but I'd rather be fat and fit than an unhealthy, inactive skinny.

mcarter99

Obese but exercise regularly will mean you'll suffer less health problems on average than someone who is normal range weight, but does no exercise. So there is some truth to it. That said, the best is still to exercise and be at a normal bodyfat range.

Oh, and you can lose 35kg and still maintain the same bodyfat level. your fat is no the only mass in your body that you can lose. specially if you only do cardio or no exercise at all.

I think the most likely thing is he lost a mix of LBM and fat but the tools typically used to measure BF% are so imprecise they can't really tell us much outside of large changes. What did they use, if not calipers?

There is a lot of evidence that losing just 10% of your weight puts you in a much better place for overall health.

bcattoes

Of course it's possible to be healthy and overweight, even obese. Just as it's possible to be unhealthy at a healthy weight. But one is more likely to remain healthy if they miantain a healthy weight. Being overweight is a risk factor for many diseases. Maintaining a healthy weight removes that risk factor.

Lozze

I think the most likely thing is he lost a mix of LBM and fat but the tools typically used to measure BF% are so imprecise they can't really tell us much outside of large changes. What did they use, if not calipers?

It was a body fat scale. Which is why I'm disregarding it.

LittleButMightyOne

Obese but exercise regularly will mean you'll suffer less health problems on average than someone who is normal range weight, but does no exercise. So there is some truth to it. That said, the best is still to exercise and be at a normal bodyfat range.

Oh, and you can lose 35kg and still maintain the same bodyfat level. your fat is no the only mass in your body that you can lose. specially if you only do cardio or no exercise at all.

I hate to disagree with you, but you are actually exaggerating the findings done in the study you are referring to. The study showed that "overweight (not obese) and fit has greater health benefits than normal weight and unfit". I don't believe there has been a study comparing OBESE individuals who exercise to normal weight individuals who don't.

I agree with the weight loss/body fat level statement, however. And because of this I highly recommend strength training. You DO NOT want to lose muscle and not fat. Once this happens, the weight loss will be harder to maintain and you will be weaker. I'm playing to the choir here, but a strength training/cardio mix is the best for maintainable weight loss.

nxd10

Congratulations! Good health should be EVERYBODY'S goal.

tappae

Being in the "healthy" weight range is not the same thing as being healthy. As far as I'm concerned, BMI and weight in general are poor indicators of anything. An accurate (as much as is possible) body fat estimation is probably the best measurement to use. Even then, though, body fat is a symptom, not a disease. As you've demonstrated, you can have more body fat than you need and be significantly healthier than someone who doesn't. I work with some thin people who are in terrible shape. They are also vegetarians that rarely eat vegetables. For any given individual, there is probably a strong correlation between healthy amounts of body fat and general health, but even that's not always the case. Back in high school, I was in the healthy range for body fat and near the bottom of the healthy BMI range, but I think I'm healthier now, with 25 or so extra pounds of fat. I have a lower resting heart rate, I eat a lot better, I'm stronger and am a better runner.

rachylouise87

this topic is interesting. i have a BMI of 31 my resting pulse is 60 i have a high level of body fat i am 30lbs overweight and drs are still telling me to lose the weight as i am going to have a heart attack and health problems. but my heart is clearly healthy no? i wonder how these proffessionals are trained to deal with these situations and if you can be unhealthy at a normal weight you can certainly be healthy being overweight

sabrinafaith

i am 4 inches shorter than my husband and 20 lb more and i can walk up a steep hill in less time and carry our 41 lb 3 year old. I also eat healthier, exercise daily and he doesn't. He thinks that because he's is thin (33 inch waist) he is automatically fit. its a load of crap! lol

obeserat

I had a 'Healthy Heart Check' at work today. This is something my work does every year. Considering I've lost over 35kg since last year I've clearly improved in every measurable way. (except body fat. It had me at 1% more. I laughed and disregarded it. Might go to my doctor for skin fold test)

The one that I found fascinating (and was thrilled at!) was my resting heart rate. They did my blood pressure first, then took it. The reaction I got was WOOOOOW. It got taken again. She told me it was 57. According to her chart this put me in the 'athlete' range for fitness. This obviously thrilled me and I haven't been able to keep the smile off my face all day!

So based on that info I'd obviously be a healthy BMI, and look like an athlete right? If you can see my profile pic and ticker, you can see that's obviously not right. I weigh 101.7kg (my 'official' weigh in. Their scale had me higher, but I'd just eaten lunch and different scales give different readings) My BMI is 36. (obese class 1) My body fat (that I am disregarding) is apparently 50% of my body weight. Yet I still have the resting heart rate of an athlete. I'm clearly a very fit person.

Now I'm not saying I don't need to continue to lose weight. Clearly I do. I still have a lot of weight to lose. (another 30kg to get into healthy BMI range) BUT don't take weight and BMI as the sole indicator of health. A person of any size can be fit. I can't wait to lose more weight and improve my fitness already!

edited to have correct info

I weigh 132kg my BMI is 40.7 but I have a resting heart beat of 53 , I really don't consider my self to be that fit , I do ride a bike 10 miles per day though

bcattoes

this topic is interesting. i have a BMI of 31 my resting pulse is 60 i have a high level of body fat i am 30lbs overweight and drs are still telling me to lose the weight as i am going to have a heart attack and health problems. but my heart is clearly healthy no? i wonder how these proffessionals are trained to deal with these situations and if you can be unhealthy at a normal weight you can certainly be healthy being overweight

I hope they are not telling you that you will have a heart attack and health problems if you don't lose weight. They should be telling you that the extra weight puts you more at risk for these things. But having a risk factor doesn't mean you definitely will develop them.

arcticfox04

Oh neat. I dropped to class 1 last week.

NoxDineen

That's awesome, congrats!

I'm around 119 lbs, 5'8", and I'm in TERRIBLE shape. Like, run for 2 minutes and pray for death. Meanwhile my friend is working his way down from 350ish (he's around 240 right now) and can run 6km with no trouble at all. Nevermind what he can do with kettlebells.

The idea that some specific type of outside package means a healthy inside is an unfortunate fiction.

mcarter99

This is totally not to detract from your accomplishment, but do you know what your RHR was before losing? Mine is genetically high, so I'm guessing some people have genetically low. Not that that's not good, too!

Lozze

It was in the high 70s when I checked six months ago.