Is “fit and fat” the new standard?

February 4, 2008 by admin.

There was an interesting article in theFeburary 2008 issue of Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter called “What does the latest research on weight mean to you?”  The article reviewed a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute that concluded ”overweight people are actually less likely to die from a wide range of causes.”  Note the word “overweight”.  To classify people as either normal weight, overweight, or obese, the BMI or Body Mass Index is most often used, a number that comes from inserting your height and weight into an equation.  (If you want to know your BMI, go to: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/fitness/multimedia.jhtml?multimediaId=/templatedata/fitness/multimedia/data/1129756657157.xml&ordersrc=msn2bodymassindex_cgy&cobrandId=ww5&s_kwcid=TC-935-1066821554-e-24318059.  In the left-hand column at the top is a BMI calculator.  The BMI for “Normal weight” is 18.5 to 2.5, “Overweight” is a BMI of 25 to 30 and “Obese” is a BMI greater than 30.

It seems that obesity is associated with an increased risk of cancers (colon, kidney, breast, esophagus and pancreas), yet a decreased risk for lung cancer.  But being overweight made one at a slightly reduced risk from most cancers.  The results are not an invitation to get fat.  One still needs to eat right, be active and not smoke.

The conclusions being drawn are that maybe the definitions of “ideal weight” need to be reconsidered.  And that maybe having some reserves on board (meaning a little extra weight) would be beneficial to withstand an adverse situation.  It also has been bandied about that BMI may not be the best measurement of risk.  Since the BMI doesn’t consider fat stores or fitness, two very important parameters in cardiovascular health, public health recommendations may have to focus more on waist-to-hip measurement, as well as fitness.  For a waist-to-hip measurement, divide the size of your waist by the size of your hips.  Anything over 0.85 for women and 0.9 for men is considered “apple-shaped” and a higher risk for heart disease.  Anything less means you’re shaped more like a “pear”.

The researchers of the study warn that the results aren’t meant to encourage people to eat whatever they want.  But most people know intuitively that what they’re eating is either good for them or not.  No one questions that fried food can’t be passed off as health food.  Be careful, though - just because manufacturers put words on the package that imply healthy doesn’t mean the food is healthy.  If you visit my website at www.advantagediets.com you can learn more about what makes for a healthy way of eating.

Posted in Fitness | 1 Comment »