Tag: Metabolically healthy obesity

While a BMI of 30 or greater is officially classified as obesity by health organizations like the CDC, a growing body of evidence suggests that you can have a BMI of 30 and be healthy if other metabolic markers are within a normal range. This challenges the long-held notion of BMI as the sole determinant of a person's overall health and points to the importance of a more holistic view of wellness.

According to a study published in *Scientific American*, people classified as having "metabolically healthy obesity" often have higher physical fitness levels and lower body fat percentages. The question, **how can someone be fat and healthy?**, addresses a complex and often misunderstood aspect of health that moves beyond simple weight metrics like BMI. This article will explore the factors that contribute to this phenomenon, including genetics, lifestyle, and where fat is stored in the body.

According to a 2024 meta-analysis, cardiorespiratory fitness was a stronger predictor of mortality than body mass index (BMI) alone. This evidence supports the reality that an overweight person can be physically fit and healthy, challenging the conventional focus on weight as the sole health indicator.

Some researchers have explored a phenomenon called "metabolically healthy obesity," where individuals with higher body weight exhibit good cardiovascular fitness. This raises a critical question in health and wellness circles: can you be fit but fat at the same time, or is this concept misleading and potentially dangerous for long-term health?