More evidence: fat =/= unhealthy

[velvetpage]

Fat people are only slightly more likely than thin people to have high colesterol or high blood pressure.

Comments

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say SLIGHTLY more likely.

Two thirds of obese have those problems.
A bit less than half (49%) have those problems.
A quarter of recommended weight have those problems.

I'd rather keep working at getting down to my recommended weight. It's not worth the risk. (Plus I'd be a really bad example as a health care professional if I didn't, I think.)

[starry-midnight.livejournal.com]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080812/obesity_study_080812/20080812?hub=TopStories

[dagoski.livejournal.com]

This goes along with some other studies of pudgy athletes. Many years ago, Outside magazine profiled some of these people in an issue. All of them were overweight, but all of them were competitive in some amateur sport. As a consequence of that fitness, all of them were very healthy in spite of their weight. However, none of them were tremendously overweight. So my guess is that inactivity plays a large role.

Also, the common obesity measures leave a lot out. At an employer health screening a few years back, I got lectured about weighing 190 lbs at 5'6". I almost tore off my shirt to refute the nurse practioner's conclusions. Weight vs height simply does not tell enough of the story to be more than a rule of thumb.

[integritysinger.livejournal.com]

shared this little nugget in my anatomy class today