14 DAY TRIAL // In a recent scientific study, researchers established that even obese individuals who have healthy metabolisms might improve their health levels considerably by losing a few pounds.
For the purpose of this investigation, a healthy metabolism was considered to exhibit normal levels of cholesterol and blood sugars. In order for people to be qualified as having one, they also needed to exhibit normal blood pressure levels.
Despite popular conceptions, it is possible for obese individuals to have healthy metabolisms. But the new paper determined that health improvements are possible in these cases as well.
The investigation that reached these conclusions is published in the September issue of the esteemed scientific journal Diabetes Care, LiveScience reports.
The new data is very important in that it contradicts the conclusions of a past research, which showed that healthy obese individuals may actually be getting sick if they try to lose weight.
“Right now, we are in a gray zone. Is it really protective to be metabolically healthy? There's a huge debate in the scientific literature right now,” explains Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec obesity researcher Martin Brochu.
“There should be no fear, regardless of what your metabolic status is, of being active,” says obesity researcher Peter Janiszewski.
“You certainly won't get any worse with exercise and diet, and you have a likelihood of improving some metabolic risk factors,” adds the scientist, who writes on the Public Library of Science website about the various aspects of obesity research.
Janiszewski is a recent PhD graduate from Queen's University in Toronto, Canada. He adds that, statistically, healthy obese individuals are more active than their peers who are just fat.
Avoiding ending up obese is of great importance, doctors say, because of the high number of complications that can arise from this.
For instance, diabetes and heart conditions develop in a high proportion of the obese population. This translates into high costs for both the patients and the healthcare system.
Janiszewski goes on to say that exercising should be a priority for people even if the scales are not showing any changes over time. Taking care of the cardiovascular will show its benefits in the long run.
People who are overweight, verging on obesity, need to become aware of the fact that they will eventually get to exercise and eat healthy eventually, after they become sick and need to go on a diet.
So, experts ask, why not start early, and avoid the high costs associated with becoming ill?