Studies conducted over the last several years indicate that just because someone is thin, doesn't mean they're healthy. The studies compared the fitness levels of men and women who were of "normal" weight and who were overweight. To compare fitness levels, all study participants were given a standard treadmill test and exercised to exhaustion. In both studies, people of "normal" weight who were unfit were at a higher risk of heart disease and other illnesses than the overweight participants who were fit.

"Society places a lot of value on being thin, and the pressure to be thin can cause development of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Perhaps our emphasis should shift to encouraging fitness and healthful eating in all age groups. Health is not defined by a single factor but a combination of many. We all can take some small steps closer to a healthy lifestyle."

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Labels: fitness, healthy, lifestyle