Is it Possible to be Overweight and Healthy?

January 17th, 2023

Is it Possible to be Overweight and Healthy?

It can be confusing to know what being “healthy” means and what it looks like – because, in reality, healthy does look different for everyone. We’ve discussed previously such as the ‘skinny-fat’ phenomenon, illustrating the misconception that many have that thin = healthy. And, as many have said before, it is entirely possible to be overweight, yet healthy ‘under the hood’ so-to-speak.

While it may be true that some – or it might even be fair to say most – overweight people have unhealthy habits, there are some who are strong, cardiovascularly fit, and otherwise quite healthy.

That being said, it is rare for someone to be doing all the right things in terms of diet and exercise and still be overweight – there is almost always an underlying reason for the extra weight. Additionally, being overweight can be hard on your joints and increase the risk for diseases and other ailments.

Some Possibilities

A poor diet
Metabolic/thyroid issues
Medication
A hormonal imbalance

I’ve also worked with overweight people who are doing all the right things currently, but their bodies aren’t responding as fast as they would like. Bodies do sometimes take a while to ‘catch up’ and adjust to a healthier lifestyle. This can be incredibly frustrating, but I always advocate staying the course – weight loss is, after all, a marathon and not a sprint.

Bottom line: it is my opinion that it’s entirely possible for someone to be walking around ‘overweight and healthy’. Do I think it’s a good idea? I’d certainly recommend losing some body fat, and/or addressing the underlying issue. But even if there isn’t a desire to do so, that person is far better off than their unhealthy counterparts.

Building a Healthy Lifestyle

Lastly, another thing muddying the water of this debate is the fact that the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is used by most doctors to determine a healthy weight, isn’t always accurate.

This is why we at Nielsen Fitness use several metrics to assess our clients, including trusty measuring tapes, body fat calipers, noticing how your clothes fit, and more. If you are the DIY type, then feel free to try our ‘fitness self assessment’ intake and our bodyfat measuring tool as a first step. More helpful resources can be found here.

Are you looking to feel good on the inside and outside and need some help to do it? Our team is made up of certified personal trainers and nutritionists. We provide personal training in Toronto and we also service clients in Collingwood. If you don’t live either place, then you can work with us live via virtual personal training in the comfort of your own home, office or outdoors.

If want to improve your diet as well, then ask us about our nutrition coaching. A healthy well balanced and nutritious diet is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Some of our training programs include nutritional coaching – Click here to apply for a complimentary first workout to learn more and get a jump start on your goals.

Updated on January 17, 2023.