Is “Fat But Fit” a Myth?
You've likely heard the phrase “fat but fit” – the belief that it is possible to be healthy while still carrying extra weight.
As obesity continues its rise in the United States, more and more people have begun to subscribe to the fat but fit belief. There are detractors, of course – actor Tom Hanks credits his type 2 diabetes to his unhealthy diet, a staple among what he calls the “lazy American generation.”
But scientifically speaking, can you be “fat but fit”? According to a new study, the answer is: “Not likely.”
A Sydney Study
The latest research on weight, fitness, and the connection to type 2 diabetes comes from Australia – a nation that comes in at number 26 in the most obese countries on earth, with 29 percent of the country suffering from obesity.
Thanh-Binh Nguyen from the University of Sydney led the study, in which Nguyen's team “investigated levels of physical activity and sitting time in 29,572 men and women enrolled in the 45 and Up Study.” Of their nearly 30,000 subjects, 611 developed type 2 diabetes during the three-year study period.
Findings on Fat and Fitness
The research found that obese participants in the study were five times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This increased risk persisted for obese people regardless of activity level – in fact, obese people who were physically active and spent little time sitting were still at a greater risk than sedentary people of an average weight, poking more than a few holes in the “fat but fit” theory.
"Once you are overweight being physically active doesn't help you that much in terms of preventing type 2 diabetes... It helps you if you can manage to reduce your weight, so it's important to continue to be physically active and to adopt a healthy diet," Mr. Nguyen said of his findings.
Professor Emily Banks, scientific director of the 45 and Up Study, concurrs. “The data tells us that being overweight or obese remains the major factor in developing type 2 diabetes,” she said. “[W]hile being active is important, it's not a 'get out of jail free' card for people carrying excess weight.”
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...