I was reading through some medical journals on the topic of overweight/pre-obese (a BMI of 25-30/kg) because I feel I need to lose a few pounds, and I came across some interesting findings. According to some recent stuides, weight loss can be neutral or even bad for your health. The following article even draws a distinction between healthy obese individuals and unhealthy obese individuals. "Healthy obese" kind of seems like an oxymoron doesn't it?
Obese but healthy: Is weight loss detrimental?
What do you think? Is obesity ever just neutral?
I don't think it is. I have a niece who is over weight. All her life she was slender and she looked good. Not too skinny - just about right until about 15 yrs. ago. She got married, got a career and she eats out a lot. She runs, she rides her bike (a lot). She is very sure of herself and by all appearances, she leads a happy healthy life. She is just overweight. Not grossly overweight. The kind that doesn't make her face look too fat and she's never had any children so she doesn't seem to carry the same kind of tummy fat that many women do. But - her arms, her legs, shoulders and even her tummy seem to be so much bigger than they should be for someone who has not had children, exercises and seems to have little stress in her life. You would think that she must be healthy since she doesn't smoke, doesn't do drugs, and she exercises. I think that she appears to be healthy even though she is overweight. I don't think she necessarily is healthy because she eats out all the time. Fat food!
I think that if we eat wrong, one day it will come back to bite us.
I have a son. He is 100 pounds over weight. I've said on here before that everytime he goes for a physical, his doctor tells him everything is fine. Like his cousin, he doesn't smoke, doesn't do drugs and until a month ago, he only got exercise such as playing ball or volleyball. He turns 40 next week. A couple of months ago, I told him I was concerned about him. I've told him before but he always cited what his doctor told him. I never planned my chat with him. It just popped out. I told him I realized that all his health check levels were fine but - I was sure that his weight had to be taxing his heart. Then I reminded him that his Gramma (my Mom) had her first heart attack when she was 47. She was somewhat overweight, she smoked and while she never exercised, she worked harder around the yard and things than I do or than my son does. He didn't really say anything to me. I have no idea if what I said helped him to make his next move. He now goes to Boot Camp (aka Biggest Losers Club). As of last Sunday, his scale weight had dropped 27 pounds. When he was measured with the calipers, he's lost the equivalent of 39 pounds. (inches). He still has a long way to go but he's feeling much better. He's looking much better. As a little gesture of "family", his brother, his Dad and myself have all looked at our diets and we've backed off. We're losing weight. Not at the rate he is because he is exercising hard - daily. I believe we will all be better off for it.
But, they're dead.
