Happy Monday
In today’s newsletter I thought I might address the latest research in the field of fitness and health.
Can you be FAT and FIT?
Last Wednesday a major UK study came out indicating that you cannot be fat and fit. The study that took 3.5 million Brits health records and data between the years or 1995 and 2015 found that those with excess fat increase the risk of suffering from coronary heart disease by half even when blood pressure and cholesterol were normal.
People regarded as fit but fat had 7 percent increased risk of stroke and nearly double the risk of heart failure.
While many over fat people have increased risk when it comes to type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and a host of cancer there are some that seemed ‘buck’ the trend and be so called metabolically healthy.
Here is where this gets interesting, despite the facts we seem to have two groups battling the argument out.
Group one – being called fat simply doesn’t help anyone.
The ‘we are living in a society that accepts weight bias and discrimination as the last form of acceptable oppression’. Overweight people are constantly criticised on the internet to get their ‘fats asses’ moving and are openly called unhealthy by those in the medical industry. This group of people stating that the study is just fear mongering statistics, is nothing more than intimidating and oppressing individuals. ‘Fat shaming’ quickly destroys any fitness endeavour or prevents them from starting at all.
On the other side of this argument you have Group two – let’s call a spade a spade.
The ‘we need to stop making excuses for our obesity’ a trend for social justice warrior types who think it’s insulting to call someone fat. This group pitching the words ‘you’re fat’ are no worse than ‘if you drive drunk you are more likely to have an accident’ – it’s nothing more than a statement of fact and we should stop getting so emotionally twisted by it.
Then there is the ‘fat is beautiful’ campaign for plus sized models. And though it’s agreed that all shapes and sizes should be seen by the younger generation in the media as opposed to the photo-shopped model, the question comes back to are we going too far with the message that obesity is good?
No one is arguing for the acceptance of a cigarette smoker because we know that smoking is bad and will ultimately lead to ill health. Being obese is much the same. Group two saying that those in group one are tying being obese to the same oppression as racism or sexism. The fact is that your gender or race is not something you choose and unless you’re part of the minority with a metabolic disease then you are choosing to be overweight.
Group three – That’s me 🙂
First off I think that fat shaming is unacceptable and people do have the right to be and look like they want. Who are we to tell anyone how they should look. But I do think we need a level of personal responsibility. No more excuses.
I would love to know what you think.
That’s it for today
Paul ‘compassion with responsibility’ and Krystie Miller
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