Can you be obese and healthy?

While being overweight is a precursor to obesity and, like obesity, can increase the risk of diabetes, heart attack and stroke, it's also possible to be overweight and still healthy, especially if you're free from chronic diseases like hypertension or diabetes.


Is there such thing as healthy obese?

“The idea of being healthily obese is a myth. Our work shows that so-called 'metabolically healthy' obese individuals are still at higher risk of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and heart failure than normal weight metabolically healthy individuals.

Does being obese mean you're unhealthy?

Yes, obesity brings with it health risks — a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain, arthritis, according to Harvard Health.


Can you be overweight and still in good shape?

A: The short answer is yes — it's possible for you to be both fit and overweight, even obese. What's really important to understand is what “fit” means and what “overweight” means relative to your health.

Can you be normal weight and obese?

Excessive body fat despite normal body weight has been described as normal-weight obesity syndrome (NWO). Normal-weight obesity is a condition in which a person has an adequate BMI but an increased body fat percentage and a greater risk of developing noncommunicable chronic diseases.


Can You Be Overweight but Healthy?



Can you be obese and not overweight?

Unfortunately, your BMI may not be an accurate measurement of whether you are at a healthy weight. According to a new study, published by the medical journal Frontiers in Public Health, a person can have a healthy BMI but still be “overfat.”

Is it harder for obese people to lose weight?

First, overweight and obese patients do not have the calorie-burning capacity to exercise their way to sustainable weight loss. What's more, the same amount of exercise for an overweight patient is much harder than for those who do not have excess body weight.

Is it OK to be overweight with muscle?

Muscle weighs more than fat, for one thing. Extremely muscular individuals could actually have BMIs that classify them as overweight or even obese. Increasingly, health experts say a better measure of overall health includes not only BMI but a test of "fitness," too.


Is overweight reversible?

Experts: Obesity Is Biologically 'Stamped In,' Diet and Exercise Won't Cure It. New research into the biological mechanisms of obesity suggests eating less and exercising more aren't enough for people with long-term weight problems.

Can chubby be strong?

People who are overweight do not only have more fat mass but also more fat-free mass [7]. With that, people who are overweight or obese are likely to have more muscle mass and to be stronger compared to people who are not overweight.

Is obesity genetic?

Since 2006, genome-wide association studies have found more than 50 genes associated with obesity, most with very small effects. Several of these genes also have variants that are associated with monogenic obesity, a phenomenon that has been observed in many other common conditions.


Is it better to be overweight or underweight?

In fact, clinically underweight people have a higher risk of death than obese individuals.

What is considered seriously obese?

Class 1: BMI of 30 to < 35. Class 2: BMI of 35 to < 40. Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher. Class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as “severe” obesity.

What weight is dangerously obese?

Individuals are usually considered morbidly obese if their weight is more than 80 to 100 pounds above their ideal body weight. A BMI above 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese and therefore a candidate for bariatric surgery.


Is obese natural?

Obesity is a heterogeneous disease in which genetic, environmental, psychological, and other factors are involved. It occurs when energy intake exceeds the amount of energy expended over time.

Will I be obese forever?

Obesity is simply a medical condition and one which has a single treatment. As long as doctors and researchers continue to believe that obesity has one common cause (for the majority of people) then we will never find 'the treatment' for it.

Why do obese people regain weight?

– Biology: The body has a strong biological drive to regain lost weight, as noted with increased appetite and a slowed metabolic rate. As backlash from dieting, the body learns to store fuel very efficiently as fat.


Why am I so heavy but don't look it?

Muscle is denser than fat, and as it is more compact within your body, as you gain muscle mass, you end up looking thinner, no matter your physical weight. So, if you've been doing a lot of strength training lately, it's likely this is the reason that you're looking fantastic but not dropping those numbers.

Why am I classed as obese but don't look it?

BMI doesn't account for body composition, which means it misses the difference between muscle mass and fat. Because muscles are more dense and heavier than fat, bodybuilders and other professional athletes like football players are often considered obese or overweight based on their BMI alone.

How can you tell if someone is fit?

Here are 10 signs you're in shape even if you think you aren't.
  1. Your heart rate is where it should be. ...
  2. You can keep up with your friends on a walk or jog. ...
  3. Your recovery time rocks. ...
  4. You exercise consistently. ...
  5. The physical aspects of parenting are a cinch. ...
  6. Stairs don't scare you. ...
  7. You can do a variety of workouts. ...
  8. You feel rested.


Why do obese people lose weight fast?

Why Do Heavier People Lose Weight Faster? The number of calories your body burns at rest and during exercise, aka your metabolism, increases with body weight. A person who weighs 250 pounds naturally burns more calories than someone who weighs 150 pounds.

Where should obese people start exercising?

If you're overweight, focus on activities that put minimal stress on your joints, like walking, swimming, or water exercises. If the idea of 150 minutes of exercise every week sounds daunting, break your workout routine into smaller chunks. Your goal should be to get 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week.

How fast should an obese person lose weight?

Summary: Most very overweight or obese people should aim to lose weight at a rate of around 2 to 4 pounds per week, which is fast enough to see rapid results but not so fast that it's likely to cause muscle loss.


What are 3 causes of obesity?

Many factors can contribute to excess weight gain including eating patterns, physical activity levels, and sleep routines. Social determinants of health, genetics, and taking certain medications also play a role.