One of the most contentious questions asked in the health community today is whether you can be overweight and healthy. This question – sometimes framed using the term “fat but fit” – has preoccupied ... Hindustan Times: Fit but overweight?

Understanding the Context

Cardiologist explains what it means for your heart: ‘The answer cannot be a simple yes or no’ Fit but overweight? Cardiologist explains what it means for your heart: ‘The answer cannot be a simple yes or no’ Daily Mail: No such thing as 'fat but fit': Major study confirms even 'healthy' overweight people are more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes and liver disease No such thing as 'fat but fit': Major study confirms even 'healthy' overweight people are more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes and liver disease Obesity and overweight fact sheet from WHO providing key facts and information on causes, health consequences, double burden of disease, prevention, WHO response. What are the health consequences of being overweight? Being overweight or obese can have a serious impact on health.

Key Insights

Carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and ... Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. In 2019, an estimated 5 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths were caused by higher-than-optimal BMI. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in countries in the WHO European Region is consistently high, fuelling diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other life-threatening noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Final Thoughts

At the same time, parents of children living with overweight or obesity tend to underestimate their children’s weight status. These are the findings from the new WHO/Europe report ...