Is Thin "Healthy"?

Being Physically Active More Important Than Being Lean, Says Research
(NaturalNews) Your physical fitness is more important than your weight in protecting your health, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of South Carolina and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers followed 2,600 people over the age of 59 for 12 years, monitoring their physical fitness, obesity and mortality. Participants were ranked for fitness based on how long they could walk on a treadmill as the incline increased. Measures of obesity taken included body mass index, waist circumference and body fat percentage.

Participants were divided into fifths based on how well they scored on the treadmill test. Those in the lowest fifth were four times more likely to die during the study period as those in the top fifth.

"Being fit provides protection against mortality in these men and women 60 and older, whether they're normal weight, overweight or obese," said researcher Stephen Blair.

Even a small difference in fitness translated into a large difference in mortality -- even when compared only with the next highest group, those in the lowest fitness group were still twice as likely to die. Blair said this showed that overweight people should not be discouraged from exercising, even if they are out of shape and can only manage a little at first.

"If you're overweight or obese and you're sedentary and unfit and you start taking three 10-minute walks a day and you do that at least five days a week, you're not going to lose an enormous amount of weight," Blair said. "You're going to still be heavy. But you're going to be much healthier if you do that."

Blair noted that it is still important to maintain a healthy weight and eat a good diet, particularly one high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

"But what happens all too often is we focus nearly exclusively on obesity and forget the activity and fitness part."


Dr. Zach's Comments:

- Life is by definition, movement: movement of muscles; movement of blood cells; movement of nerve impulses; movement of food and nutrients through your body. There are five basic functions a living thing must do to survive: animation, coordination, adaptation, healing, and growth. All of these activities require the movement of something. Therefore, in order to understand how to maximize life, you must first understand what makes you “living”, and the key is the realization that you never stay the same.
- Physical Activity is a vital nutrient YOUR BODY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS is order to function normally and thrive. I promise you, if you can think of physical activity as such a vital nutrient (no different than food and water) you will find it becomes extremely fulfilling and enjoyable.
-You are designed to constantly adapt and change in your environment thus allowing your body the greatest ability to carry out its daily functions. If you are successful, you grow stronger and move towards health, wellness, and wholeness. If you are not able to adapt and change to you environment, you grow weaker and move away from health and the state of wholeness your body desires.
-Some great resources for beginning an exercise program are easily available right in your community or online. Check with your local gym or YMCA to find a certified personal trainer to help you get started. You will also find that these facilities often have walking, running, or biking clubs you can join for a combine social experience. If you go online, you can find great resources on sites like www.bodyforlife.com, americanheart.org, naturalnews.com, and many others.
-Remember to make a visit to your chiropractor. There's nothing that will hinder physical activity more than spinal misalignment and interference to the neurological connection between your brain and body!! The Purpose of Chiropractic Care is to RESTORE normal alignment and function in the spine in order to RE-ESTABLISH an appropriate brain-body connection so that you may RESUME the healing process and move toward Health, Wellness and Wholeness.