Do you think someone can be obese and healthy?

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TheWretchedFat
TheWretchedFat Posts: 52 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Do you? Please give reasoning as to why or why not
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  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
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    You can be healthy at 20-25 pounds overweight. Once you start encroaching the territory of 50lbs overweight or more... no. I'm sorry but with kind of excess weight you're obviously not making your health a priority. The extra weight on your joints and organs is enough to classify you as unhealthy at that point even if your blood panel turns out fine.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
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    in
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
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    It depends. How, exactly, are you defining "obese?"

    Also, how, exactly, are you defining "healthy?"
  • ADStanfield25
    ADStanfield25 Posts: 9 Member
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    To me this question is a slippery slope, but I will bite! No, I do not. On the flip side, I do not think that just because someone is thin, they are healthy either. I say this because although there are plenty of obese people (myself included) who have PERFECT lab work ups (great cholesterol levels, normal triglycerides, etc),but they are still not at an optimal state of homeostasis due to the fact that body fat is stored at a surplus. Not having homeostatis=out of whack=eventual health problems. Sure, my cholesterol is fine now, but if I don't drop this weight, what will it be 5 years from now? There are also other factors to consider outside of diabetes and blood pressure...such as, irritation and inflammation of the joints and muscle tissues. To me, health equals a body doing what it is supposed to do...and storing excess fat (imo) is not one of them!
  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
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    I have one of those "Yes, but..." answers.

    Yes, they can be healthy - but that all depends on how you define "healthy". Obesity increases the risk of certain diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Now, "risk" does not mean they have that disease, and there is no guarantee that they will. Essentially, it's the same as an increased risk due to genetics, the only major difference being that you have more control over obesity than you do over your own genetics.

    Theoretically, if one person had an increased risk for a disease due to genetics, and that risk was the same amount as a person who had an increased risk due to obesity, are either of them healthy? Neither of them have the disease, just a higher risk of it.

    In short, "healthy" is up to a lot of interpretation.
  • Followingsea
    Followingsea Posts: 407 Member
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    It all really depends on how you define healthy, doesn't it?
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    eventually it catches up
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
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    It depends. How, exactly, are you defining "obese?"

    Also, how, exactly, are you defining "healthy?"

    ^^^This.

    By definition (BMI), I'm obese.
  • jessicagilb
    jessicagilb Posts: 69 Member
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    Only if they're obese for a short time. Because living obese will inevitably turn into morbid illnesses- in my opinion when you're over weight your just a living organism for disease that is already growing inside of you. The question is, how long until it shows its self. Like a bacteria that just needs to get big enough in your body to overcome the body's defense system.
  • somerisagirlsname
    somerisagirlsname Posts: 467 Member
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    I have been obese all my life, and by a doctor's definition, I am healthy. I have great cholestorol, great blood pressure, normal sugar levels, etc. The doctors were actually surprised to report how healthy I was. I am also only 22 years old. If I continue to be obese, chances are I am not going to stay anywhere near healthy when I get older. It's all very relative.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
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    This whole question is a can of worms as it depends what definition you are using as healthy. Does healthy mean no diagnosed iilness? or what? If you work on that definition yes you can be obese and healthy. The thing is no matter waht you are in greater risk for illnesses so the chances are you wont be 'Healthy' long term.
  • greetstrz
    greetstrz Posts: 25 Member
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    I think it's also a matter of how and where you store your excess fat when you're overweight/obese (definitions definitions). Lots of fat surrounding your (abdominal) organs bears higher health risks. Storing it all in your butt, on the other hand, brings a long bigger risks of becoming Nicki Minaj ;)
  • Skeebee
    Skeebee Posts: 740 Member
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    It depends. How, exactly, are you defining "obese?"

    Also, how, exactly, are you defining "healthy?"

    ^^^This.

    By definition (BMI), I'm obese.

    Same here. Technically obese....resting pulse of 48 (pre-pregnancy...i'm 23 weeks now), good cholesterol, normal to low blood pressure, awesome aerobic threshold and metabolic test results, normal sugar levels. It's totally possible....My husband is technically obese, also, and has raced two half iron mans, dozens of triathlons, marathons, mountain bike races (placing in his age group), all his medical results are normal and healthy. So, totally possible...
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,022 Member
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    I think the AMA already decided that if you're obese, you're diseased.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,472 Member
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    , NO....if you have any fat at your waist, you are asking for trouble .
  • JanisMay67
    JanisMay67 Posts: 43
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    Someone can fall into the BMI obese category, yet look fine. How about football and rugby players? A lot of them would be classes as obese, yet they are super fit, and follow healthy eating plans.

    I think it's definitely possible for someone obese to be healthier than a normal weight person, if they eat healthily, exercise, don't smoke and drink moderately. There are an awful lot of "normal" weight people out there who live on rubbish.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
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    Do you? Please give reasoning as to why or why not

    In the strictest sense of the word, yes. Healthy means free of disease, ailment or injury, and it is possible to be obese and free of disease, ailment or injury.

    But, obesity is a risk factor for many diseases and ailments. It lowers the odds that one will remain healthy, especially if one is obese and doesn't exercise regularly.
  • Fridaklo77
    Fridaklo77 Posts: 124
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    It all depends, lab work would need to be gathered, it would all be in the lab results.. I am currently 25lbs overweight... and my vitals are great. But, overall it's best to be lighter.. At least thats what I am striving for.
  • Brad805
    Brad805 Posts: 289 Member
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    According to BMI, yes, but if one goes by BF, then I think not.
  • TheWretchedFat
    TheWretchedFat Posts: 52 Member
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    I wanted to hear others general opinion on obesity and health, that's kind of why I left the question so open.

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