Until recently, it was believed that a few extra pounds could have beneficial effects on health. Because, for example, adipose tissue in postmenopausal women is a reservoir of estrogen. Research conducted on a group of 3,5 million Britons has clearly debunked the myth of healthy obesity.
Recent research shows that extra kilos increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by half – even in people who have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
It turns out that people who are considered obese but healthy are more likely to have a stroke and twice as likely to suffer from heart failure than people with a healthy weight.
Experts have long tried to determine whether obese people can actually be healthy, and whether there is such a thing as healthy obesity, characterized by normal metabolism with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
Compared to people with a healthy body weight, the majority of obese people are clearly more likely to suffer from health problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes. However, there are also those who, despite being overweight, seem to be in good health, contradicting gloomy statistics .
Previous observations have shown that up to every third obese person is healthy, but the largest study of its kind in the world, conducted by a team of scientists from the Institute for Health Research at the University of Birmingham, has challenged this theory.
The authors of the report, presented at the European Congress on Obesity Research organized in Porto, Portugal, analyzed medical data collected between 1995 and 2015 on 3,5 million adult patients who initially did not suffer from cardiovascular disease.
Researchers looked for markers of metabolic health in patients who, despite obesity, had normal blood pressure, adequate cholesterol levels and did not have diabetes.
It then looked at how many of these people developed any of the four cardiovascular diseases over time: ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (including stroke), heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease (circulatory disorders).
Data analysis showed that obese people who are considered healthy have a 49% risk of developing coronary heart disease. higher compared to people of normal weight. Patients in this group were also 7 percent. more likely to have a stroke and up to 96 percent. they developed heart failure more often. The proportions did not change even when factors such as cigarette smoking were taken into account.
Despite the lower overall risk of peripheral arterial disease, the risk of developing peripheral arterial disease was higher in obese healthy subjects who had never smoked.
In total, among patients who were followed over 20 years, there were 165 cases, including 302 cases of ischemic heart disease, 61 strokes, 546 cases of heart failure, and 54 cases of peripheral arterial disease.
Overweight people need professional help to achieve optimal weight, says Dr. Rishi Caleyachetty, who led the study. – The belief that you can be healthy while being obese is a myth. There are many ways in which doctors and obese people can reduce the risk of disease.
– Our study of 3,5 million people found that, compared to people of normal weight, obese people with normal metabolism are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart failure.
– Metabolically healthy obesity is not harmless, and it is a mistake to consider obese people with normal metabolism healthy. It is better not to use this phrase at all as it can lead to misunderstandings.
Dr. Mike Knapton, Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation comments: “Here’s another study that confirms that if you are overweight, you are likely to be at high risk of cardiovascular disease.”
– It is not often that research on such a large scale and of such great importance dispels a myth as old as the world. These results should be taken seriously. I appeal to doctors to take them into consideration.
What is BMI?
The body mass index (BMI) is a ratio calculated on the basis of your weight and height; one of the basic tools for recognizing overweight and obesity.
What is the correct BMI?
– For adults, a normal BMI value should be between 18,5 and 24,9.
– If your BMI is above 25, you probably weigh more than recommended for your height
– BMI of 25 – 29, 9 is overweight
– BMI of 30 – 39 is obese
– BMI over 40 is extreme obesity
How to calculate the BMI value?
Divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters. Divide the result again by your height in meters to get your BMI.
For example, if you are 1,75 m tall and weighing 70 kg, divide 70 by 1,75. The result obtained, which is 40, should be once again divided by 1,75. The result, 22,9 is this person’s BMI.
What kind of fat man are you?
SKINNY FAT, a skinny fat man
Characteristics:
– Unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity.
– Normal or low BMI.
– Poorly developed muscles.
– Poor metabolism (hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, visceral fat). Visceral fat, also known as visceral fat, accumulates in the abdominal cavity.
In extreme cases, visceral fat covers vital organs, leading to serious cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
How to deal with it:
– Identify problem areas by measuring the thickness of adipose tissue e.g. with a caliper; DEXA testing allows you to find out the presence and exact location of visceral fat.
– Start building muscle tissue.
– Adapt your diet to your level of physical activity: make sure you are getting enough energy (get as much carbohydrate as your physical activity requires).
BURNT-OUT FAT, i.e. fat burned out
Characteristics:
– Constant feeling of tiredness.
– Restless sleep, difficulty falling asleep.
– Increased appetite, especially for carbohydrates and sugar.
– Fatigue can negatively affect your metabolism, causing fluctuations in your ‘hunger hormone’ levels.
How to deal with it:
– Limiting your alcohol intake will help ease your sleep problems.
– Enrich every meal with proteins – this treatment will slow down digestion and thus help maintain the proper level of insulin.
– At the end of the day, before going to bed, try to calm down: eliminate anything that bothers you to fall asleep, drink caffeine-free herbal tea, take a relaxing bath, read a book.
-Take sleep-aid supplements: magnesium, lactium, taurine, vitamin B.
Regular cardio training and weight-bearing exercises not only help build muscle tissue, but also make it easier to fall asleep.
STRESSED FAT, which is a fat stressed man
Characteristics:
– Difficulty losing weight despite dieting.
–Fat tissue that accumulates mainly in the abdomen.
– The adipose tissue produced by the stress hormone is related to the fat tissue produced by burnout – all hormones belong to one endocrine system and cooperate with each other by means of feedback.
How to deal with it:
– Stop bothering yourself with diets: when you refuse to eat, your body interprets it as a threat of hunger, which raises your stress levels and accelerates fat accumulation.
– Eat small portions but often to avoid blood sugar fluctuations; eliminate refined carbohydrates, sugar and alcohol from your diet.
– Drink herbal teas instead of coffee. Coffee as a stimulant increases the level of stress, which leads to increased secretion of cortisol – a chronic excess of this hormone in the blood results in the displacement of fatty tissue deposits to the abdominal area.
– Food plays a vital role in fighting stress. Introducing healthy elements into your diet – balanced proteins, fresh fruit such as raspberries, blueberries and cherries, and vegetables – will improve your well-being. It is worth including avocados, asparagus and nuts in the menu, which are healthy and help reduce stress.