Can You Be Healthy at Any Size?

Is carrying a few extra pounds really as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be?

It’s true that body weight is strongly correlated with the risk of various diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. But there are numerous other indicators as well, including blood pressure, blood sugar, blood fats, and inflammation. Some have argued that you can be overweight and still be considered “metabolically healthy” if these other risk factors are normal.

Not true, according to a new study. Even for those with normal blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, simply being overweight increased the risk of heart disease by 28%. “We conclude that there is no such thing as being healthy obese,” said lead researcher Camille Lassalle.

This was a bit of a setback for those who advocate an approach known as Health at Every Size.

What is Health at Every Size?

The Health at Every Size movement promotes acceptance and appreciation of one’s body, even if you’re overweight. It encourages overweight people to shift their focus from losing weight to other healthy habits, such as eating healthy foods and getting more exercise. I’ve noticed more nutrition professionals getting on board the Health at Every Size bandwagon and I think I understand some of the reasons why.

Weight is Just a Number

First, it is true that the number on the scale does not tell the whole story about your health.

Body weight and body mass index (BMI) doesn’t take into account body composition. A very muscular person may have a BMI that’s considered overweight or obese, when they are no such thing. On the flip side of the coin, someone with a low BMI may still have a high amount of visceral fat—the so-called “skinny-fat” phenomonen...

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