Why fitness is more important than weight | Leanne Spencer
The measures of fitness and weight are both influenced by how much you weigh. Because of the way fitness is calculated, for two people with the same oxygen-transferring power, weighing more typically means lower fitness.
Some researchers argue that weight does not affect health as long as you are fit, which means your heart and lungs are strong. For people who are obese, losing weight might be more important to their overall health than focusing on fitness.
Combining exercise with a healthy diet is a more effective way to lose weight than depending on calorie restriction alone. Exercise can prevent or even reverse the effects of certain diseases. Exercise lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, which may prevent a heart attack.
Overweight doesn’t have to mean unhealthy. Physical exercise can negate, even overcome, the negative health impact of weight. Fitness is more important than weight loss simply because optimal weight does not always mean optimal health.
