Photo Credit: iStock FatCamera
Most of us have gained weight during the pandemic. Afterall, we’ve been sitting all day doing zoom calls and eating more chips than ever before! Extra calories consumed and less calories burned is a sure way to gain weight. But does excess weight really matter? Can you be overweight but also be fit? It’s a debate that has been going on for years. New data suggests you unlikely can be both.
There is no shortage of people who carry excess weight but have impeccable blood pressure and cholesterol levels and no known health problems. Consider the example of professional athletes whose livelihoods are dependent on being heavy, such as football linemen or sumo wrestlers.
At first glance, it is easy to notice their rotund shape, but they also possess greater physical endurance and strength than the average person. On the other hand, some maintain a thin figure but eat poorly, seldom exercise, and have a host of health issues. Granted, most of us don’t train like professional athletes but it gets to the heart of the question: What matters more when it comes to health– weight or fitness?
Some studies do suggest that regular physical activity can mitigate some of the negative effects of being overweight, which does lend credibility to the idea of being both. Regardless of your weight, exercising regularly is sure to be a good thing. However, even when controlling for physical activity level, those who are overweight tend to be at higher risk of disease than their normal-weight peers.
Here are three reasons why being overweight does not always harmonize with being fit:
The COVID pandemic has taught us important lessons about the importance of self-care. It’s not just about our lifespan, but also our health span. That requires each of us to do our part in striving for a healthier lifestyle, whether that means eating more healthfully, exercising more consistently, or implementing better stress reduction techniques. While it’s possible to achieve good health despite being overweight, reducing excess body fat is yet another way to further optimize health and fitness and reduce the development of chronic disease.
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