Can You Be Overweight and Healthy?
The Archives of Internal Medicine published a study this month that brings hope to the millions of clinically overweight people in the world. The message? “You can be overweight and still be healthy.”
Sounds like a dream doesn’t it? Well, it is.
Just like uncle Bob who smoked twenty-seven packs of cigarettes a day and died at 145, these “facts” leave logic on the back porch. For starters, the researchers judged “healthy” by looking at blood pressure and blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) as well as blood sugar. A healthy person was anyone with a blood pressure below 140/90 and blood sugar under 100. However, we know that blood pressure over 120/80 raises the future risk of stroke and heart disease. Also, some doctors consider a fasting blood sugar over 80 to be a risk for future Type 2 Diabetes.
Some experts viewed this study as yet another reason to use waist size, not BMI or body weight, as the method of determining someone’s health risks. Waist to height ratio, in particular, is a handy measurement for disease risk according to Dr. Selma Brown. She and others believe that one’s waist should be no more than twice one’s height in inches. So, if you are, say, six feet tall (72 inches), your waistline should be half of that or less in order to be considered healthy. That’s 36 inches. Makes sense, doesn’t it? However, if you have a 40 inch waist and you are 5 foot 8 inches tall, you have a problem.
Lastly, “health” is more than a series of numbers on a laboratory sheet. This study did not reflect the legitimate lifestyle concerns, such as energy levels, vibrancy and self-image.
In the long run, true health is reflected on the outside of the body as well as the inside. You do not have to have the body of Michael Phelps to be healthy, but the state of being overweight will rarely bring you anything but trouble.
If you want to try the fit and lean lifestyle for yourself, give my new book 7 Minute Muscle a shot. Tens of thousands are already using this new System and seeing fantastic results.
[jB]
Archived in 7 Minute Muscle, Fitness, Nutrition.
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Comments (8)
Sarah said:
Yikes, if I had a 32.5 inch waist I would be VERY unhappy even if the “experts” say it’s healthy since I’m 5’5”. And with 32.5” around the central part of me, my bodyfat percentage is certainly way higher than any sane person would consider healthy … where do they hatch these people who come up with such calculations as BMI and height/waist ratios anyway? Outer space?
Posted on Aug 27, 2008 10:11 AM
Jon Benson said:
Sarah,
That is the “maximum” one should have, not the ideal. At 6 foot my “maximum” waistline measurement should be 36”. I certainly do not think that’s ideal, but this stat is FAR more indicative of longevity than blood work and other common tests.
I should have said “maximum” in the article. ; )
My waist in shape is 31-32”, well below the threshold.
Posted on Aug 27, 2008 10:25 AM
Paul said:
BTW Jon…Did you catch the little snippet on the tube about Michael Phelps eating habits? His 10K cal per day intake. I certainly understand the need for that amount of fuel, but the quality of his food leaves allot to be desired. Lots of simple carbs, fatty meats, pizza, sodas etc. If that boy keeps up those eating habits as he gets older and his fuel requirements go down…we may very well see a Michael with a belly not to mention health issues.
I’m sure he knows what he’s doing ..afterall he has all the “experts” on his side.
Hey he’s a great swimmer.. no doubt..but all that bacon and greasy sausage, pizza etc. has got to go!
Posted on Aug 31, 2008 07:31 PM
Jon Benson said:
Paul,
Yes, and I wrote an email about it. See below…
———————
How can you burn bodyfat and shed bodyweight
and eat over 12,000 calories a day?
Change your name to Michael Phelps.
Actually you’d have to become Michael Phelps,
and you’d have to swim about 8-9 hours a day
all-out in a pool… and have the genetics of an
absolute freak of nature… and be 23 years old.
Easy, right? Ha.
I was watching the NBC report on what Phelps
eats in a given day. His breakfast was like… well
more food than I eat in three or four days:
Fried eggs. Pancakes. More pancakes. Protein
drink. Sugar-coated crap… just a bunch of junk
food really. Tons of it.
Lunch was even worse. Dinner was a pound of
pasta, sugary sauce, and then a giant pizza.
Over 12,000 calories a DAY to fuel Mr. Phelps.
I have three questions for you:
1. Why does Michael have such a great body?
2. Is nutrition really not that important after all?
3. Do you think this is healthy?
I’ll take the last question first, okay?
Obviously Phelps is a genetic freak and the
greatest swimmer ever, so already he’s in the
Top 99.9999 percentile of human beings.
But even for him, is this healthy? Ask Mark Spitz.
Mark is now suffering from the same cardiac
problems as many Americans — high blood lipids.
And as you probably know Mark Spitz was Michael
Phelps, Part I. 7-time Olympic Gold Medalist in
swimming. Some of us remember watching the races.
Other problems he’s having are “undisclosed” but
high blood pressure and even arthritis would not
surprise me, despite the fact Spitz looks like a
million bucks.
You see, bad food is BAD FOOD, regardless
of whether you burn it off or not. Sure, you can
eat bad food occasionally — even every other day
like I teach you, but only in moderation.
To eat it for fuel is just going to come back and
haunt you. Even if you are Michael Phelps.
(Michael could get these calories from better
sources of food, but it would be very hard given
his swimming schedule.)
Okay: So is nutrition important. Are you kidding?
It’s the most important element of long-term health
and fitness.
Just because Phelps can eat like four humans
does not mean you can. Even swimming 8-9
hours a day is not enough to guarantee that.
I’ve seen other athletes who also engage in
rigorous exercise who do not look like Phelps.
They don’t have his metabolism. Most end up
with serious health problems too.
Remember, excess food in any form (healthy
or not) is hard on the body. That’s why so many
studies show that decreasing food intake slightly
can increase life span.
Finally, why does he have such a great body?
Toned abs and muscles?
Swimming + incredible genetics = Phelps.
It’s certainly not the dietary plan he’s on.
One more question: Would you like to have a
great physique like Phelps and NOT have your
life revolve around eating food all day and then
swimming the rest?
Cool… then go here —
http://www.7minutemuscle.com
I’ve proven to myself and to thousands of others
that you can get a fantastic body in far less time
than you think.
Sure, you have to work hard. This is not a miracle
pill… those are ALL B.S. and you know it.
But only for 7-21 minutes per day depending on
how great you want to look.
Combined with the right nutrition plan my 7 Minute
Muscle System is fool-proof.
No joke: I think you can have a better body than
even the great Michael Phelps in 1/10th the time
AND without the long-term health risks of what so
many “experts” recommend.
A lot of food and a lot of exercise.
No thanks. I have a life. You?
I’d rather perform smart exercise — hard, short, and
effective — and eat savvy (less food that fills you
up faster) so I can spend my days living rather
than working out.
What do you think?
Sincerely,
Jon Benson
Author, 7 Minute Muscle
Author, Fit Over 40
Author, Every Other Day Diet
P.S. A heart-felt congrats to Michael Phelps! I
do not want anyone to think I’m not thrilled for his
accomplishments in the pool. In fact I’m having a
blast watching this guy rocket through the pool.
I just know that 99% of us will never be able to do
that kind of dietary plan and training even if we
wanted to.
That’s why I created my own System that works in
just a few minutes every day. Hard minutes, sure.
But wow… what a difference.
Besides, I would hate to eat 12,000 calories every
day. That’s like a freakin’ second job!
http://www.7minutemuscle.com
Posted on Aug 31, 2008 07:35 PM
Paul said:
Spot on Jon…and timely..
as you know habitually eating hgih fat, high simple carb food will eventually take it’s toll. These habit forming foods are terrible for long term good health. Besides if you can buy it at the store it must be good for you…right.
Of course we have big pharma to save us…the docs and the pharmas.
Good nutrition is just too simple… and of course theres no money in it.
You have a tough row to hoe my friend….convincing folks to eat clean is an up hill battle….
A close friend of mine ( a former Mr. Calif and a 4th place Mr. America) owns several gyms. His very matter of fact understanding of his clientele’s eating and exercise discipline is indeed sobering and actually kind of sad.
I feel so fortunate to absolutely love exercising and eating excellent foods. At 55 years young It takes me a little longer to warm up and rest between hard workouts is more important than it was 30 years ago. My running times, swimming times, bicycle times and lifting goals have not dimished with age at all.
Thanks for all your great work…keep it up.
Paul
Posted on Sep 01, 2008 12:04 AM
Chris barberi said:
at 54 years of age, 6ft tall and 223 today, I’m confused.
my scale says 37% body fat.
moderate lifting and walk 3-4 miles per day.
HELP!
just purchased your book…hope it jump-starts my program
Posted on Sep 12, 2008 08:26 AM
Jon Benson said:
Chris,
It’s all about nutrition man… what’s your diet like?
I use the Extreme Plan in EODD or the Ultimate Plan (coming in EODD 2, which you get free when you own EODD):
http://www.everyotherdaydiet.com
Check it out — smart nutrition is the key to getting that bodyfat level down.
Posted on Sep 13, 2008 08:41 PM
Rosie Peters said:
Hi Jon
In relation to this article, I was just wondering what you think of the health and fitness of athletes like world class wrestlers, some of whom seem to carry a fair bit of body fat but are able to compete for sustained periods of time in a pretty rigorous workout?
(Probably more the old time ones than those in the short, quirky grab a metal chair or iron bar type routines you see on TV today!)
Regards
Rosie Peters
Posted on Sep 22, 2008 04:47 AM