Are You “Overfat?”
Are you a pear or are you an apple? It’s not the first time you’ve heard excess fat around your midsection is unhealthy.
You may already know excess abdominal fat is associated with increased risk of chronic health diseases and is linked with concerns like coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, Type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and the list goes on… The negative effects also lead to conditions like inflammation, the root of a lot of illness and injury, and insulin resistance, which is critical because insulin is the hormone that helps control glucose and blood sugar.
A new study conducted by the journal “Frontiers in Public Health” evaluated the growing “overfat” “pandemic” in developed countries. This was done after another study by a group of three doctors found 76 percent of the world’s population is “overfat.”
The study found the problem can be seen on a large scale in developed countries like the U.S., where 90 percent of men, 80 percent of women, and 50 percent of children are considered “overfat.”
This study is so alarming it was covered on the Today Show earlier this month.
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You’ve probably heard me say more than enough DO NOT CHASE NUMBERS when it comes to your body composition, or, frankly, your health in general. At Fitness on the Run, we believe obsessing over a body weight, a dress size, a suit cut, or even a certain number of miles can be akin to herding cats.
Not only is a certain bodyweight possibly unachievable or unsustainable, it can also lead to feelings of personal failure and ultimately low self-esteem. It is also hugely questionable how you got to that “perfect” number.
There is, however, one measurement I’ve mentioned before and I believe it has solid credibility: waist to height ratio, or WtHR. All it takes is a tape measure. No scale. No pressurized mechanism to tell you a number you may not even understand.
Is your waist less than half of your height?
It is a formula developed by a British doctor Margaret Ashwell. Dr. Ashwell spent years researching the various indicators for “early health risk” and found the WtHR to be superior as a predictor of it. She found that “there is now good evidence that central obesity carries more health risks compared with total obesity assessed by BMI.”
Dr. Oz and others, like Dr. Ashwell, are interested in conveying the real truth. They believe the language we use to describe “healthy,” “fat,” and “fit” has previously been misleading. I’d say we are simply learning more and getting smarter! How we describe our own bodies carries enormous consequences for our daily lives. How we “self-talk” also can bring joy and pain.
At Fitness on the Run, we take your fitness seriously for life. We combine a focus on strong bodies and strong minds. We stay on top of the best research so we can share it with our community at FOR. Maintaining strength means a laser focus on daily habits that contribute to a healthy and pain-free life.
- About the studio
Alexandria Wellness offers achievable answers for anyone who is tired of chasing fitness and health without a clear plan, someone who has struggled and is not satisfied with their fitness and wellness or someone who is open to maximized healthful longevity and fitness along with healthful weight loss. Adrien and her team offer help with food guidance, body acceptance, sleep and stress issues, and insist you have fun along the way.
Schedule your free 30 minute consult here!
Alexandria Wellness
215 North Payne Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.299.9333
contact@alexandriawellness.com
