Can you be fat and healthy.

[eliza61]

There was an interesting clip on GMA. There is a growing trend among women for what they call "Fat acceptance". The clip is pretty much about yo-yo dieting, which I agree is ridiculous but it also points out the health risk associated with obsiety.

So can you be 100 lbs over weight and healthy?

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=7823614&page=1

 

[ajk912]

I don't think 100 lbs overweight can possibly healthy.

When I first opened the thread, I was going to say that yes, you can be fat and healthy. The "overweight" BMI scale starts at 25%, and I think you can easily have a 25.1-30% BMI and be fit and healthy, just need to shed a few pounds. Over 30%, I am not sure.

 

[Chip_and_Dales_Girl]

At those girls ages? Sure, if they stay active.

I actually met a woman who got denied weight loss surgery, even being 150 pounds overweight because all of her medical tests came back perfect. Blood pressure, blood sugar, kidneys, liver, cholesterol all were the numbers of someone half her size.

However she also knew that as she got older it would start to wear on her. That her health would decline if she didn't start to at least try to do something about her weight. And I believe that will happen to those girls as well. They may be perfectly medically healthy (other than their weight) now, but in 5 10 or 20 years that may not be the case.

Food can be an addiction to some, so even if you're completely medically healthy you may not be mentally healthy as well. I think there's a huge difference between "fat acceptance" and "human acceptance". I have no problem accepting people for who they are and what they look like. But let's not pretend that being overweight or obese doesn't present health problems down the road.

And that's coming from someone who is currently overweight.

 

[Wishing on a star]

No. I do not.

If we are talking about carrying 100 pounds of excess fat tissue. No, I do not believe that this could ever be 'healthy'.

I think that this is wishful thinking and an effort for those who suffer from obesity to try to feel better about it.

I found it interesting that they were comparing obesity to being healthier than things like binge dieting, taking dangerous diet supplements, eating disorders, etc... That is not a fair comparison.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Healthy at 100 pounds overweight? I don't think so.
But you CAN be perfectly healthy and happy with an 'overweight' BMI of say 25-31.

 

[happygirl]

My hubby and myself are both well overweight, He just had a major physical done and all of his blood work came back great!! He has sleep apena and has to use a Cpap machine but I think he would have to use that regardless of his weight. I'm also overweight I have no health issues that I know of. My blood pressure is prefect,

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I'm in the "no" camp as well.

 

[swald91]

I would have to say at 100 lbs....no!

 

[Chicago526]

100 pounds, no way. Not over the long term anyway.

10, 20, even 30 pounds? Depends on the person but I think most could be healthy that much over weight, assuming they don't have other issues like smoking, drinking to excess, drug use, etc.

 

[happygirl]

Wow. I promise I'm not lying.

 

[Christine]

In general, no, I do not think being 100 lbs overweight can be healthy.

Now, I think that for a moment in time, you can be in a healthy state but it will not last.

I also think that there will always be those anomalies: people who are morbidly obese and manage to live well into their 80s or 90s like that. We all know the story of the smoker who was never sick a day in his/her life, right?

My aunt, at age 69, has been overweight since her 30s. First just 40-50 lbs overweight, now probably 80-100 lbs overweight. She also has great cholesterol, is not diabetic, has wonderful BP, etc. But her obesity has worn on her physically. Her knees hurt, she cannot move well, and she is often depressed due to her moblility issues. Not healthy.

Having said all that--I think you can be somewhat overweight (not 100lbs) and be healthy if you live a healthy lifestyle.

 

[HunnyPots]

Carrying an extra 100 pounds will put unnecessary strain on your heart, even if all those "numbers" look normal right now. Not to mention what it will do to your feet, ankles, knees, and hips over time.
No, of course it's not healthy.

 

[Buckalew11]

No. 100 lbs is a lot of weight. Can't be good for heart, joints etc.

 

[monkey68]

No, I don't think you can be 100 pounds overweight with fat and still be healthy. Maybe at the moment, but it will catch up to you. It's more work for your heart to pump, more blood for your kidney's to filter, etc. Not to mention the stress on your knees and back, even snoring can be related to weight.

I am not looking at BMI so much, because it does not take into account muscle mass. A person can be extremely muscular, but have a BMI of 30. Yet they are still fit. But if that BMI of 30 is from fat, then no, I don't think it's healthy.

 

[Macca1111]

Wow. I promise I'm not lying.

No one was trying to say you were. However, sleep apnea is associated with obesity, and even if your husband still had it at a normal weight, it's much more dangerous for obese people, and certainly aggravated by the extra weight. It is a problem that generally goes away when you lose weight. Also, as other posters have mentioned, even if you're not seeing problems now, the wear and tear on your body having to carry 100 extra pounds will make it break down sooner than if you were carrying the correct weight for your frame. Knees are delicate anyway, and being 100 pounds overweight is like you were carrying a weightlifting set around with you all day. You may be in great shape, with no joint issues or any health issues, but then you are the rarity. I think everyone is correct that being close to the healthy BMI is probably the healthiest way to go.

 

[C.Ann]

No.. Eventually it will catch up with you - resulting in a wide variety of serious and costly health problems..

 

[shellybaxter]

I think this thread is proof of the discriminatory attitude our country has against the overweight. No one but a person's doctor can decide if they are healthy or not healthy. Yes extra weight is bad for the joints, etc, but there are plenty of "unhealthy" things for thin people too. One of the thinest people I know has super high cholesterol. Another thin person has to take blood pressure medicine.

Personally, I am well over weight. I have some medical issues (knee and hip pains, reactive airway disorder, allergies, and depression). Some of these condition would probably get better if I lost weight, but others of these conditions have a cause effect on weight gain.

Like a previous poster I have GREAT blood pressure, pulse rate, cholesterol, sugar levels, etc. In these ways I am healthy.

 

[luv2laugh]

No! I believe you could possibly be healthy that overweight for a little while. However, it will quickly catch up to you; it's inevitable.

 

[Macca1111]

Yes extra weight is bad for the joints, etc, but there are plenty of "unhealthy" things for thin people too. One of the thinest people I know has super high cholesterol. Another thin person has to take blood pressure medicine.

And if the OP had asked, do you think that people with super high cholesterol but otherwise fine can be healthy, people would be saying no to that too. People aren't saying that thin people can't be unhealthy, they are just logically pointing out the problems that are associated with obesity.

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

I don't have an opinion if 'fat' and 'healthy' are mutually exclusive of one another but I will say this.

This weekend we were at my son's end of the year gymnastics show. 2 of the instructors were what I would guess to be 50-100 lbs overweight. The instructors put on a little demonstration of their own at the end of the kids portion and WOW!- those 2 instructors were flipping all over the freakin place.

They are certainly more athletic than I am at my 'within normal range' weight.