Butterfly Cauldron
Monday, December 04, 2006
Fat and healthy? Goddess forbid!
A bit of fat-positive news for a change, from MSNBC.com. A new study has shown that fat women can improve their health without loosing weight! Stunning, ain't it? Now, I'm not so pleased about the whole 'health needs improving' bit, but at least it's not the typical "If you don't lose weight you will DIEDIEDIEDIE!"
Entire article can be found here. Select quotes:
. . .lifestyle changes including exercise programs such as tai chi, aqua aerobics and circuit training, coupled with behavior modification, can improve health risks in obese women even if they do not lose significant amounts of weight.
“People of all sizes and shapes can reduce their risk of poor health by adopting a healthier lifestyle,” Dr Erika Borkoles, of Leeds Metropolitan University in England, told a news conference.
Perfectly sensible. A good diet, moderate exercise, keeping control of stress levels -- all things everyone needs to do to be healthy, regardless of size. And the activites they suggest are fairly simple. No mention of exercising for an hour a day, every day as so often gets tossed about.
Although the average weight loss was small, from 239 lbs. to 233.7 lbs., after a year on the program, the women showed improvements in their self image, were fitter and less stressed.
“Psychological and physical health improved independent of substantial weight loss,” said Borkoles, adding that weight is a poor predictor of health.
Wait, what was that? A doctor saying that weight does not indicate health? Really? In print? Quick, someone give this Doc a place to hide before the fat-bashers hear!!
I'm pleased to see the medical community, in even a small way, acknowledging what has been shown to be true -- that it's not fat that's unhealthy. Living a sedentary, do-nothing life filled with stress is dangerous. But get the right stuff in your diet, get yourself a little active, have some friends and hobbies to curb the stress and look! Healthy and fat. What a concept.
Entire article can be found here. Select quotes:
. . .lifestyle changes including exercise programs such as tai chi, aqua aerobics and circuit training, coupled with behavior modification, can improve health risks in obese women even if they do not lose significant amounts of weight.
“People of all sizes and shapes can reduce their risk of poor health by adopting a healthier lifestyle,” Dr Erika Borkoles, of Leeds Metropolitan University in England, told a news conference.
Perfectly sensible. A good diet, moderate exercise, keeping control of stress levels -- all things everyone needs to do to be healthy, regardless of size. And the activites they suggest are fairly simple. No mention of exercising for an hour a day, every day as so often gets tossed about.
Although the average weight loss was small, from 239 lbs. to 233.7 lbs., after a year on the program, the women showed improvements in their self image, were fitter and less stressed.
“Psychological and physical health improved independent of substantial weight loss,” said Borkoles, adding that weight is a poor predictor of health.
Wait, what was that? A doctor saying that weight does not indicate health? Really? In print? Quick, someone give this Doc a place to hide before the fat-bashers hear!!
I'm pleased to see the medical community, in even a small way, acknowledging what has been shown to be true -- that it's not fat that's unhealthy. Living a sedentary, do-nothing life filled with stress is dangerous. But get the right stuff in your diet, get yourself a little active, have some friends and hobbies to curb the stress and look! Healthy and fat. What a concept.
2 Comments:
I'm surprised they admitted it, though the admission does seem small.
That's nice to read. About time too.
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