5 Surprising Facts about Your Weight

We’ve all heard that being overweight increases your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and nearly every common fatal disease you can think of. Americans, and now Europeans, are notoriously over weight. In fact, we are known to be fat. So do the fat people just sit around waiting for dooms day or is there some glimmer of hope to be found? There are some myths about excess weight that we would like to do away with.

Five Myths (and Facts) When it Comes to Your Weight

Myth #1: A high body mass index (BMI) means that you are obese.

 The truth is that BMI does not take your muscle content or bone structure into account. In fact, many extremely muscular body builders have a BMI that would indicate that they are obese. While BMI may be a good place to begin to gauge your fitness, it is certainly not worthy of being your only indicator. Consider the results with flexibility.

Myth #2: There is absolutely nothing good about extra weight.

There may actually be a positive side to having a few extra pounds. While extra weight is definitely considered a health hazard, those that have experienced heart attacks or surgery may appreciate that little bit of extra weight. There is actually research that indicates those who are obese by BMI standards have a better chance of survival when it comes to heart attacks and surgery.

Myth #3: It is great to lose weight no matter what the cost.

This is certainly not true. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program and losing weight slowly but surely is far better than crash dieting and immediately regaining that and possibly more. This is hard on the heart and the metabolism. It is also known to cause gallstones.

Although anorexia and bulimia are not considered crash diets, they offer the same risks and more. They are potentially life-threatening, and can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. Purging, or redundant vomiting, can stress the heart and damage teeth due to the stomach acid exposure.

Myth #4: Slim and trim equals a healthy body.

There are a number of skinny people that smoke cigarettes, which is a potentially greater risk than carrying a few extra pounds. In fact, skinny people can still carry extra weight around their vital organs known as visceral fat. This makes those skinny people candidates for type-2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. A 2008 study showed that 25 percent of normal weight individuals had at least two metabolic factors that rated abnormal.

Myth #5: There is no discriminating about fat – it is all bad!

There is research that shows that some fat people are healthier than others, depending upon where they carry their weight. People that carry their excess weight around their midsection may be at a higher risk for illness than those that carry it on their hips, thighs, and buttocks. Belly fat is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction.

Whether or not anyone can be fat and healthy is an ongoing debate that may never be resolved. If you are exercising and eating right and still not shedding the weight you want, don’t give up. You are doing your vital organs a world of good!