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Having your cake and eating it too
By Dr Lee Naylor
The jury has spoken and the word is out – it appears that whilst many of us believe thin is beautiful, there is evidence suggesting that you can be big and beautiful and healthier too. In other words, it appears as though we can have our cake and eat it too.
It seems as though we cannot read a newspaper or flip through a magazine without the word obesity hitting us in the face and putting us off our lunch. For many of us the message is out, we get it, if you’re overweight then you will significantly increase your chances of succumbing to a plethora of illness and disease. However one message that is perhaps taking a little longer to sink in is the idea that being active has more impact on our health than our bodyweight. Sedentary people, thin or fat are unhealthier than fat active people. Hang on – so you can be overweight but if you’re active then you’re a lot healthier than a skinny person who rarely moves!
Being physically active has tremendous health benefits, over and above weight loss which is what most of us commonly consider because it’s what we can see, let’s face it, it’s impossible to see some bodies blood cholesterol or glucose levels or blood pressure levels, so we usually focus on what we can measure and that is body weight.
Three of the greatest risks to our health, high cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure can all be quickly and easily reduced by engaging in moderate exercise. Physically active people have lower cholesterol levels than sedentary people and are at a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Physically active people can metabolise blood sugar much easier than sedentary people are at a greatly reduced risk of diabetes. Physical activity greatly improves blood flow, heart function and subsequently reduces blood pressure.
Therefore, whilst most people have been thinking that the life preserving effects of exercise were due exclusively to the fact that exercise kept you thin, the real secret that exercise significantly improves our physiological health has been laying dormant. Unclogged arteries, sugar free blood flowing through our veins and a cardiovascular system complete with healthy oxygenated heart and lungs are some of the benefits exercise affords us, the other is that yes, in moderation you can have that piece of cake, but remember it may take you about 5,000 steps to walk off – so is it really worth it.
Supporting international studies:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999 determined that in 21,925 men aged 30-83 who were evaluated from 1971-1989, that those who were fit and obese were five times more likely to have a reduced risk of heart disease than unfit lean men.
Harvard Nurses health study determine that participants undertaking 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week significantly reduced their chances of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and many cancers, regardless of their size.