Friday, June 27, 2008
The ‘fit but fat’ theory consists of the idea that people can be both fit and fat. I just read about a new study of 39,000 women conducted by Harvard-affiliated researchers to figure out whether exercise or weight exerted a greater influence on the risk of heart disease. The results showed that staying active can lower but not eliminate the heart risks faced by overweight or obese women. A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 29 is considered overweight, while 30 and higher is considered obese. Compared with normal-weight active women, the risk for developing heart disease was 54 percent higher in overweight active women and 87 percent higher in obese active women. By contrast, it was 88 percent higher in overweight inactive women; and 2½ times greater in obese inactive women. About two in five U.S. women at age 50 will eventually develop cardiovascular problems. Excess weight contributes greatly to this, causing increased blood pressure, risk for diabetes and higher cholesterol levels. It is imperative that women engage in physical activity to reduce the risk of heart disease.
There is no such thing as ‘fit but fat’. Besides being overweight or obese, others may live their lives average or slim but ‘fat’, meaning that their outsides do not match their insides. This will undoubtedly lead to health problems in the future. Having a nutrition and fitness plan will keep your body looking and feeling healthy, inside and out. Working out for about 30 minutes every day, limiting fat intake and reducing caloric intake will help you become healthier and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown that losing just 10 percent of body weight can reduce many weight-related health risks. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our Health Talk page and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
