The latest phenomenon in the world of health: “skinny fat”- where thin doesn’t always equal healthy.
Body fat is all about proportion: it’s about how much fat you have compared to your body size, not how much body fat you have compared to your coworker at the neighboring desk.
Someone can be skinny and still have a large amount of fat relative to their size. This can increase the risk for a whole host of diseases:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Insulin resistance
- Diabetes
Just because you can’t see it jiggle doesn’t mean it’s not there. Having fat that surrounds your organs is the most dangerous fat to have.
As far as health & longevity go, level of fitness trumps weight. Research has shown that cardiovascular fitness plays a greater role in mortality than weight. Interestingly enough, the death rate is no greater for someone who is obese & fit, than someone who is normal weight & fit.
What does this information mean? Weight isn’t the only indicator of health.
Maybe it’s time to stop worrying about the numbers on the scale & hit the gym instead. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce the fat surrounding your organs.
So whether you’re skinny or not, don’t take fitness for granted- and stop judging the overweight marathoner- for all you know, he’s in better shape than you.
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