This comprehensive analysis, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, examined nearly 400,000 individuals and found that people who were out of shape faced a dramatically higher risk of death – being roughly two to three times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease or other causes compared to their physically fit counterparts.
“Fitness, it turns out, is far more important than fatness when it comes to mortality risk,” says Siddhartha Angadi, an associate professor of exercise physiology at the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development, in a media release.
“Exercise is more than just a way to expend calories. It is excellent ‘medicine’ to optimize overall health and can largely reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death for people of all sizes.”
The study tracked participants across multiple groups, with an average age range of 42 to 64 years. Importantly, the research included a more diverse group than previous studies, with 33% of participants being women – a significant improvement over earlier research that was dominated by male participants.
Participants were categorized into groups based on two key measurements: body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness. BMI is a standard measure that uses height and weight to estimate body fat, while cardiorespiratory fitness measures how efficiently your body can transport and use oxygen during exercise.
Remarkably, the researchers discovered that being “fit” appeared to neutralize the traditionally understood health risks associated with being overweight or obese. Individuals who were overweight or obese but maintained good fitness levels showed no statistically significant increase in mortality risk compared to those at a normal weight.
“The largest reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality risk occurs when completely sedentary individuals increase their physical activity modestly,” Angadi reports. “This could be achieved with activities such as brisk walking several times per week with the goal of accumulating approximately 30 minutes per day.”
Conversely, individuals who were unfit – regardless of their weight – faced substantially higher risks. The unfit group, across all weight categories, showed a two to three-fold increase in the likelihood of dying from all causes, including heart disease.
This doesn’t mean weight doesn’t matter at all. Instead, the study suggests that physical activity and fitness might be more critical to long-term health than previously understood. The researchers propose a radical shift in approach: instead of focusing exclusively on weight loss, public health strategies should emphasize improving physical fitness.
Source : https://studyfinds.org/fat-but-fit-is-a-real-thing/
