The Slim Is Fit Myth

AbsoluteNG

According to a broad study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, overweight people live longer than people in the BMI range considered healthy, and longer than people in the morbidly obese category. I imagine that researchers will be looking at what factors contributed to these results. In the mean time, if you're exercising, your blood stats are good, and your weight isn't taking a toll on your joints, a few extra pounds are probably nothing to worry about.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2013-01-02-overweight-people-live-longer-study-claims/

But how many of those people are living off of drugs? You can live a very long time with diabetes as long as you take drugs. Not sure how many people want to live like that.

DavidMartinez2

Now the question I have is, would any of you think of saying that to an NFL offensive lineman? I look at how big those guys are around the middle, and they are in phenomenal shape to compete and perform at the level that they do. I think that someone built like myself can be big, and still be in excellent shape.

Your thoughts?

My thought is that my brother Tommy spent 2 years post-college getting back to being just big after he was done as an offensive lineman.

juliannorton1000

"The point is, people in the past, especially in the martial arts community, look at me and say, you're fat. You need to lose weight"

Probably because they knew they wouldn't win against you. ;P lol

lithezebra

But how many of those people are living off of drugs? You can live a very long time with diabetes as long as you take drugs. Not sure how many people want to live like that.

Would you really prefer not to live if you needed to take a drug to regulate your blood glucose? I know a lot of people who have diabetes, take their medication, and are delighted to be alive.

BeachIron

I guess I'm not sure what you're looking for. Do you want validation or honesty?

If you want honesty, I say great on you for being active, but you're still eating too much and you're not an offensive lineman. Those guys are younger and can outrun and out bench both of us. Get your weight down, and then come back here and tell us how you feel, how much your benching, and how low your 5km time has gone. At 51 you still have physical potential that you're not tapping. Why not tap it? You'll be healthier and even more effective in the ring.

AbsoluteNG

But how many of those people are living off of drugs? You can live a very long time with diabetes as long as you take drugs. Not sure how many people want to live like that.

Would you really prefer not to live if you needed to take a drug to regulate your blood glucose? I know a lot of people who have diabetes, take their medication, and are delighted to be alive.

I believe you missed my point. The results of the study are skewed as the reason those people are living longer is most likely due to modern day medicine, weather it be triple bypass surgery or drugs, but not because they have a higher than average BMI. Quote below from your research link.

Even being ‘just’ overweight can increase the chance of developing long-term health conditions, which while may not be fatal, can make life a lot less enjoyable.

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_Zardoz_

There's a huge difference to bring fit and being healthy. You can be both our one or the other. I know many slim people who are not fit. No matter what anyone says whether you are an NFL linesman or not carrying too much weight is unhealthy and will shorten your life it's that simple I'm afraid.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

I think the biggest concern is that it will all catch up with you at some point. I also think it is great that you are so active at 51 and at your current weight. Look, losing a few pounds, getting down to 230 or 240 at your height, will benefit you in a few years when it is harder to maintain muscle mass, to avoid hip and knee injuries, etc. You'll probably even be able to bench 290 at the reduced weight. The guy I work out with benches 270 at 190 pounds, and he's not a young guy. I have another friend who is your age and a kick boxer. He lost 30 pounds of excess weight around his middle, and his martial arts skills improved. As we age, there's a lot more to worry about than performance at the moment. We have to worry about what's going to happen as we get closer to 60 and closer to 70 and so on. That's where getting the body fat down and maintaining as much LBM as possible starts to matter.

I was "healthy" when I was 60 pounds heavier, but I am "healthier" now than I have been since I was in my late teens/early twenties. I'm fighting middle age with everything I can in my arsenal.

Nishi2013

im obese with no health problems

And if you lose that weight your knees and other joints will thank you. Slim may not be fit but slim has many more advantages over fat.

lithezebra

But how many of those people are living off of drugs? You can live a very long time with diabetes as long as you take drugs. Not sure how many people want to live like that.

Would you really prefer not to live if you needed to take a drug to regulate your blood glucose? I know a lot of people who have diabetes, take their medication, and are delighted to be alive.

I believe you missed my point. The results of the study are skewed as the reason those people are living longer is most likely due to modern day medicine, weather it be triple bypass surgery or drugs, but not because they have a higher than average BMI. Quote below from your research link.

Even being ‘just’ overweight can increase the chance of developing long-term health conditions, which while may not be fatal, can make life a lot less enjoyable.

.

Respectfully, that isn't the point that you made earlier. I wouldn't have a problem with taking medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis, if I needed them, because they improve quality of life, especially for people who can't manage these disorders satisfactorily with diet, exercise, and weight loss.

I hope that the relative risk of developing long-term health conditions, as a function of being moderately overweight, is revisited in light of this study.

phjorg1

ugn, the dumb here..

1) Activity has a MUCH stronger corolation than weight when it comes to old age health. someone overweight but active WILL be able to hit old age healthier than someone in the proper weight, but who is inactive.

2) That said, larger people do die faster. there is a reason why everyone who is 100 years old + are all tiny people, who do some sort of cardio, and eat very little. The bigger you are, the harder your heart has to pump, the sooner it wears out.

TLDR: be active, regardless of your weight.

ndj1979

I would not call an NFL offensive or defensive lineman out of shape....but those guys are training here round, have in house nutritionists, etc etc..so they can maintain that while they are pro athletes. However, when they retire most of them really start to pack on weight or go on some calorie restrictive diet to lose weight and get down to a manageable weight..

So - with all due respect - I think your example is a little off.

I mean your typical obese person is not going to have access to an NFL style training facility, NFL doctors, and NFL nutritionists...

I guess its kind of like comparing a KIA SUV to a BMW SUV and saying ..well they are both SUV's so they must be the same...yea they are SUV's but which would you rather have...?

BobMcCloskey

Thanks all for your comments. The long and short of it is that I will continue to strive to lose weight. I agree with those of you who have said that losing more weight while remaining active will only continue to enhance my performance, and odds for longevity. Again, thank you all who have taken the time to reply.