Can You Be Healthy and Heavy?

How much does your weight affect your health? Can you be healthy and still be considered "overweight"? A new study suggests that the connection between weight and health may not be as clear cut as doctors and health professionals previously thought. While it is still clear that seriously obese people die a bit earlier (as do people who are too skinny), people who were considered overweight actually may live a little longer than people considered a normal weight. Researchers say this may be because medicine has gotten better at managing disease, and the study measured death rates not disease rates.  Or it could be that what we see as healthy may be skewed.

Healthy can look different on different people.

You could have two people who have the exact same Body Mass Index (BMI) and one could be healthy and the other not healthy. An example would be Rebecca Fox of NYC who is considered obese. She has normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. She also does CrossFit four times a week and competes in triathlons. And yet, there are many people who are overweight or obese who struggle with a host of medical problems or find that their weight hinders them in everyday activities.

Being healthy is more than just a number on the scale.

While some people may actually need to lose weight to become more healthy, it is important to keep health as the primary reason for lifestyle changes. Using body shame as motivation to improve your health doesn't work and often leads to unhealthy and dangerous yo-yo dieting. Studies show that the majority of women perceive underweight women as "ideally healthy" and that isn't necessarily the case.

It is possible to become a healthier person without losing a pound. Often focusing on becoming healthy will cause a person to naturally lose weight. Regardless, becoming healthier will make you feel better, your life will be more enjoyable and you will find that you are happier with the person that you are!