Fat and Fit in Hattiesburg?
With the obesity epidemic in full swing around the world, one question is often asked, “Is it possible to be fat and yet still be fit?” Or a better question even, “Is it better to be fat and fit or lean and inactive?”
Dr. Rick Kausman, spokesperson for the Australian Medical Association, believes we need to look at fitness as a measure of true health, instead of merely focusing on one’s body size. "We’ve been brainwashed to believe that healthy weight is a size 8 . . . We’re clearly not all meant to have a BMI of 22, or be a size 8 or 10," he said.
Kausman continued, "Human beings are meant to come in all shapes and sizes. We have to allow our weight to be the healthiest it can be to us, not to anyone else."
This message is the focus of Kausman’s most recent book, He believes that physical activity and "little changes" to your lifestyle, such as reducing the amount of food you eat when you’re really not hungry and “fine-tuning” your diet can help you reach a healthier body weight.
However long-standing wisdom and research supports the facts: those who are overweight carry an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer. Most experts have held this belief for years and evidence certainly supports this theory. So while it may be better to be slightly overweight and fit, rather than lean and unfit, this does not negate the negative effects of being overweight!
Physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle no matter what you weigh. And while you may be fit and somewhat overweight now, there is no crystal ball that can tell you what effect that extra weight will have as you get older. Being overweight still carries an increased risk for cardiovascular illness as you age.
Therefore, those who fall into the “fat-but-fit” category would do themselves a favor to shed some of those excess pounds, and sooner rather than later. Start with 5 – 10% of your body weight as a goal, and move on from there.
Regular chiropractic care can help you in this endeavor. Since chiropractors generally see patients more often than other health care providers, we can easily monitor a patient’s progress in the battle to lose weight. We can help you determine the amount of exercise your body can handle, evaluate your progress and determine whether there are changes in your weight, flexibility and range of motion as a result. Chiropractic care also helps keep your body in peak performance – so make sure you make it to all your scheduled appointments. Your health is counting on you!
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