It’s been a while since I tackled a newsy topic on this blog. Why? Because it takes time – something I’ve had little of during my move from Chicago to Scottsdale, Arizona.
But recent stories on obesity have been bugging me, especially those focusing on the concept that it is better to be fit and fat than unfit and thin. Here’s a quick summary:
“The data suggest that half of overweight people and one-third of obese people are ‘metabolically healthy,’ ” reports The New York Times. “That means that despite their excess pounds, many overweight and obese adults have healthy levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and other risks for heart disease.”
While that’s good news from some Americans, there is another side to these statistics: half of the overweight and two-thirds of the obese adults studied are NOT “metabolically healthy.” The story adds that overweight and obese adults still face numerous other serious health problems.
About one-quarter of those who are considered thin suffer from “at least two cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with obesity.” So statistically speaking, one-fourth of thin people have health issues versus two-thirds of obese adults. Could it be that writers are missing the bigger picture here?
It’s been a while since I tackled a newsy topic on this blog. Why? Because it takes time – something I’ve had little of during my move from Chicago to Scottsdale, Arizona.
But recent stories on obesity have been bugging me, especially those focusing on the concept that it is better to be fit and fat than unfit and thin. Here’s a quick summary:
“The data suggest that half of overweight people and one-third of obese people are ‘metabolically healthy,’ ” reports The New York Times. “That means that despite their excess pounds, many overweight and obese adults have healthy levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and other risks for heart disease.”
While that’s good news from some Americans, there is another side to these statistics: half of the overweight and two-thirds of the obese adults studied are NOT “metabolically healthy.” The story adds that overweight and obese adults still face numerous other serious health problems.
About one-quarter of those who are considered thin suffer from “at least two cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with obesity.” So statistically speaking, one-fourth of thin people have health issues versus two-thirds of obese adults. Could it be that writers are missing the bigger picture here?