FAT PEOPLE CAN BE AS HEALTHY AS THIN PEOPLE
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I have mixed feelings about this. But I think you can be over weight and healthy.
Talk to your doctor.. Its the people that are over weight that are eating junk and never exercising that are unhealthy. 0 -
I honestly believe this. I work with someone who is literally like 100 lbs. I am 150 lbs and for some reason she feels that she is healthier than me. She has asthma, bronchitis, and is hypoglycemic.... and I hightly doubt she can do too much as far as the physical activity/exercise that I do. I, on the other hand, have no health problems such as she does... And I am also very able to exercise for a reasonable amount of time and a reasonable pace... and still be okay afterwards.
I understand that the obese tend to have more health problems than smaller people... However,
WEIGHT is not a good way to determine ones health. (I can weigh 200 lbs and be pure muscle rather than be overweight.)
I think there is certainly such a thing as being too thin for health (otherwise, no one would be concerned about anorexia). Bodybuilders who get their body fat down to very low levels are not doing it for health, but for their sport. I heard a doctor talk about one of his patients who was a bodybuilder. The man had a LOT of health issues that came directly from the punishment that he was inflicting on his body.
I exercise, eat no junk food, and am in reasonable shape for a woman my age (even though I am overweight--but down from obese). The other day, I was surprised, when climbing the stairs next to a very thin woman that I know, (I suspect that she may have some anorexia issues). I wasn't even breathing heavy when we got to the top of the stairs and she was looking very winded (and she's probably 20 years younger than me). I asked her if she was okay and she said that she was. I've seen what she eats at lunch---almost nothing.0 -
So, 14 drinks every Saturday is OK?
Awesome.
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#moderateDrinking
I guess I shouldn't have said "on average." That must have thrown you off.0 -
I have mixed feelings about this. But I think you can be over weight and healthy. Talk to your doctor.. Its the people that are over weight that are eating junk and never exercising that are unhealthy.
yes, this is the one of the takeaways from the article.0 -
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/12/31/evidence-that-fat-people-can-be-as-healthy-as-thin-people/
This article was very encouraging. It's all about the lifestyle change. Certainly it is important to lose the weight for a lot of reasons (like stress on knees, making more money, a better self-image).
Also, the survery says nothing to quality of life or the fact that obese people are treated with much less respect in general in society.
But for those of you in a huge rush to lose the weight so you can be healthy guess what? The changes you have hopefully already made already are giving you a much longer life.
check out the graph in the article and it is quite surprising.
The 4 measured factors for prolonging your life:
1. eating 5 or more fruits and vegetables daily
2. exercising regularly
3. consuming alcohol in moderation
4. not smoking
Do you notice that it's not a medical research journal study that was done.. it's an internet site.. you can't believe everything you see on the internet.
All those 4 things, will lead to weight loss- I lost 10 lbs by eating better
look more closely. you will see a link to the medical study.
this looks pretty official to me.
http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/1/9.abstract?etoc0 -
Fat me is probably healthier than a lot of thin people my age (according to labwork, fitness tests, blood pressure, etc.). But, fit me would be able to kick fat me's rear.
I am not comparing myself to others, most people are sedentary. Why would I be satisfied with being fat and relatively healthy when I could be so much more fit than I am now? Forget that.
But yes, technically being at a healthy body composition is part of the equation to health, not all of it.0 -
Also, I just got my bloodwork back. Everything was spectacular. Doc was very happy and surprised. But still recommended to lose the rest of my weight of course.
But I was already doing all 4 of the recommendations. I would actually say now that overall I am living healthier than most "thin" people. I get more exercise for sure than the average person. Eat more healthy foods (most of the time). I don't smoke. Rarely have a drink. It shows in the bloodwork too.
Of course losing the rest of the weight is my plan. But I am happy that in the meantime everything looks pretty good and that my risk factors for premature death are prettimuch the same as someone who is thin.0 -
thin people can be as unhealthy as fat people too
fun fact 0 -
Hover round!!!! (one of my favorite commercials) :laugh:
Now Carry on!
There is a great argument for AGE, but it does not really reflect HEALTHY people. Those folks need their wheelchairs, because of leg or back problems. The fact that most of those folks in the Hover round commercial are AVERAGE WEIGHT does not serve as an good argument for 'fat people over 90'.Ever been to walmart on a saturday?
Now, you are talking about FAT people of all ages. Those Walmart electric scooters are in full use all the time. Some of the users are FAT and handicapped, like myself; but most of those folks in the Walmart scooters are not 90 years old. They are just FAT and/or don't feel like walking.
The original question still applies.How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
You would have to check out the senior citizens housing units and hospitals to get a better answer for that question.
Guess what? Most geriatric patients are NOT fat. Their bodies could not support that additional weight. It would be too big of a burden on their heart and lungs. Active senior citizens are not fat. Check out your local senior citizen center. Now days, they tend to have gym equipment and lists of activities for keeping folks active, on their feet and on the move...not sitting around watching TV or playing video games. Those are the curses of the younger population.
90 year old folks grew up without TV or computers. They grew up with real food not TV dinners and fast food. Grandma didn't have McDonalds. She was taught to cook and maybe even grow her own food. Grandpa had a radio, but he walked more than he sat.
Fat, senior citizens (even under the age of 90) are usually suffering with bad knees, circulation problems and back problems from years of carrying around excess weight.
I am 68 years old and have been obese to severly obese for most of my life, starting in my teens. My cholestrol level is fine. I am NOT diabetic, though I got close a couple of times. I don't have high blood pressure; but don't check my blood pressure, if I am forced to climb up stairs. I am crippled by years of damage to my knees. That is why I am in a wheelchair right now. I can only get my double knee replacement surgery, if I lose 70 pounds. Then, I can stand and walk again without pain.
Will I be healthy? No. I would still be 200 pounds, and that is NOT a healthy weight. I would just be a FAT senior citizen with new knees. If I live to be 90, I will be lucky. In my family, we have a history of everything from heart attacks and strokes to cancer. My mother was NEVER over weight, and she died of bowel cancer at 66. My dad was heavy all of his life, had several heart attacks and even a stroke; but he died in the Northridge earthquake. He had skin cancer and heart problems, but that didn't kill him.
The author of the question about 'fat 90 year olds' IS RIGHT. Fat and 90 is rare. Reaching 90 years old takes a certain amount of concern for your health, starting with your weight. You may not be able to stop cancer or an earthquake or a car wreck from killing you; but you can try to keep your weight in a range that won't wear out your knees and back. You can eat healthier to reduce the chance of blood clots forming in your blood. You can make choices to NOT SMOKE and DRINK ALCOHOL, because neither of those choices are going to make you healthier. They only add to the risk of you NOT REACHING 90.
Thanks to the writer of this post. You reminded me of WHY I MUST LOSE WEIGHT. I would love to have another 20 or so years to spend with my hubbie Ed. Ed's Papa is still alive at 94, and he isn't fat. Papa was a hard working dairy man for most of his life and not fat. Papa's beautiful wife is a petite 90 something herself. They are both healthy for folks in their 90's and still living in their own home. If either of them were fat, I don't think that their life would be what it is today. 0 -
This is true. I have a friend who is 5'3" and is overweight. She is the perfect picture of health on the inside. But her weight is causing her some knee issues and her hip has been acting up lately. Her doc says that she needs to lose weight to see any improvement in the pain in those two areas. Because she is healthy, outside of her those listed issues, she won't lose the weight.
So, yes, fat doesn't mean unhealthy.
she will probably develop health issues as she gets older. a ton of health issues are linked to being over weight. I, personally, lost weight because my mom and dad (my mom is over weight and my dad always was) both have health issues..... between the two of them - diabetes, heard disease, chronic back/knee issues, high blood pressure, etc. I'd rather lower my risk for these things. Also, medical stuff aside, I feel freaking amazing compared to how I used to feel. I didn't realize I felt like crap, I just thought that's the way it was - but obviously it's not. and I think that's the thing with most people. they don't realize how much BETTER they could feel because they don't realize how bad they currently feel ((about me: 30 y/o female, 5'6'', start weight 303.4, current weight 186.4 and counting down)).
and yes, thin people can be just as unhealthy as fat people, which is also why I believe skinny does not equal healthy or beautiful.
FIT IS (and should be) THE GOAL0 -
I am 250 and 5'5. Not diabetic, no high blood pressure, normal everything. I hiked Glacier National Park with my fiance, and made it all the way to the top! I feel healthy on the inside. I just want it to reflect on the outside. I am sure that the weight isn't good for my knees or back. I'm not interested in losing weight, more interested in losing fat and getting in shape. And also, I think about my heart having to work extra to keep my blood circulating. That's not really good for my heart, so I know I need to lose weight even though I am otherwise healthy. But yea, I have seen overweight people running marathons and doing all kinds of awesome stuff. You dont have to be skinny to be healthy.0
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My great grandfather was born in 1900, died in 1992. He was 92 and fit as a fiddle. He was thin, his only vice, salt. My great grandmother, still kicking, she's almost 95 and thin. My great aunts, tiny tiny thin women, all passed away in their 80's. My aunt, pretty thin and in good health, almost 50. My grandfather almost 88, very thin. My grandmother almost 80, very thin. My mother very thin till about 40, could stand to lose about 25 lbs, but still in pretty good shape. Goes out salsa dancing about 3 days a week.
My other aunt, 4 foot 11 inches and weighs almost 300 lbs. Had a heart attack not to long ago. My 2 other uncles both over weight, one passed away at 35, the other is still around, but very unhealthy and he's over weight.0 -
Just goin to reply to the name of the topic. Yes, so true. Being a size 7 doesn't mean your healthy (or not healthy b4 someone gets offended) and also, being a size 16 doesn't make you unhealthy. I was a 12-14 most of my life & I was actually fit & healthy until 4 years ago. Then I was unhealthy & a size 14-16. Size doesn't describe health, your lifestyle does.0
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in Australia and New Zealand more money is spent in the health system on obesity related diseases than any other health problems caused from other triggers (such as smoking)... obesity is the biggest killer in society! fact
im sure this would also be the same in the US which has one of the highest obesity rates in the world..
fat/obesity aint healthy... just saying0 -
sure they can! in fact I once read a study that being overweight is actually protective in old age.Obesity not so much same for being underweight, but being a chunky old lady is actually pretty healthy.0
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How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
that'd be almost zero...0 -
How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
this ^^0 -
How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
This. My weight turned my health into a ticking time bomb.0 -
How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
Who want to live to 90?0 -
My Mother was the perfect weight. She had no bad habits. She died at 90. It is not up to us. It is what it is.0
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Let's be honest with ourselves.
Health is not the only aspect of diet and fitness.
Vanity is a big factor and you shouldn't be afraid to say it.0 -
I've seen a repeat in in the comments of "my knees bother me" or "my back hurts" or "My blood pressure is a little high" but otherwise I'm healthy.
IMO, these things = something wrong = not healthy.
The way some of the people talk it's like they assume that since they haven't had a heat attach or a stroke yet they are "healthy".....
THe blood pressure, the bad knees, and the sore back are all signs that the weight is starting to take a toll on your body... so no, you're not healthy anymore....0 -
love the negativity. love to hear from the glass half empty people. lol. yes, i'm being sarcastic.
actually, its about 50/50. lots of people positive too.
if you're going to offer something objective though I would love to hear it. another study that offers different information for example.
subjective opinions.. hmmm. not so much.0 -
I think the point of the ' healthy at every weight ' movement is to convince people who are overweight to start taking steps to become more healthy without focusing on what the scale says - giving examples of how to become healthier without putting pressure on them for something they probably already have personal issues with and most likely view as inevitable. Really, what is it but a basic example of what everyone on this site is trying to do (except members who smoke and binge drink) ? Just without the benefit of calorie counting to ensure measurable results.
If they follow that guide, eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising more, most will naturally lose the weight anyway and make it a moot point. If not, at least they are taking their health as much into their own hands as they can.
Seriously, this is a dumb thing to argue about.
I sort of disagree eating more fruits veggies and exercising more will just "naturally" cause people to lose weight (maybe guys only... :laugh: )
However TOTALLY agree that there should be a positive attitude about eating healthier and exercising in our society. I know too many overweight people who say "when I lose weight..." and of course weight loss is hard. But putting off good choices, or putting off your dreams, that's hard too. If you want to run, run now, don't wait. If you want to start lifting weights, do that now, don't wait. Quit smoking today. Don't wait for weight loss to be the healthy person you can be. Love yourself and start living life, don't wait to lose weight to start exercising, start today! Not sure any of us on MFP need that message but probably society in general could benefit from that. I disagree that weight loss will come "naturally" when these steps are taken (it's still food in / energy out, and easy to continue to overeat, even if you're eating healthy). But think I'd rather be an overweight person who runs rather than an overweight person who doesn't.0 -
Probably, the bottom line is that a bit of overweight will likely not take much of a toll but that obesity is a killer and the more obese someone is, the faster it will kill. I'm convinced that the obese are overfed and undernourished. On the other end of things, we have the unhealthy thin folks who are also undernourished---and underfed as well. The common denominator is undernourishment. It is amazing how good real food tastes when you cut out the junk. Since I cut out sugar and wheat, the health problems have greatly diminished along with my weight. I still have arthritis, but it has improved with the weight loss.0
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How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
My great grandfather and grandmother lived to 89 and 92. They were both obese.
I'm obese, got great cholesterol. Triglycerides is like 79 which is awesome. Blood pressure 100/60 awesome, blood sugar 84 also awesome. I'm just around 130lbs overweight not so awesome. I don't feel unhealthy though. I just want to be able to wear what I want, and not be judged so much by other people. Also they don't make all dresses in all sizes, yah know (sadly).0 -
Interesting0
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How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
Who want to live to 90?
Me!
If Im healthy and active at 90, why wouldnt I want to be here?
I dont get the point of the question.0 -
How many obese 90 year olds do you see around?
Who want to live to 90?
Most 89 year olds.0 -
My grandmother started to lose weight as she got older. By the time she was 90, she was probably down to 250. But before that, she was pretty heavy, I would guess 270 or so.
By the time she hit 100, she was probably only 220 or so.
I guess getting old is a great weight loss program?0
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