Fitness vs Fatness

Sacha van Niekerk

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to achieving health and fitness – there are certain factors that can help or hinder

WE LIVE in a world where diet culture is all around us. | ANDRES AYRTON Pexels

IS THE number on the scale as important as our relationship with food and exercise? The question is part of a “fitness versus fatness” debate that is ongoing within the realm of health and medical science.

To better understand the concept, we first need to decipher the terms used. Registered Dietitian, Sumaiya Essa unpacked the meanings within a health context: “Fitness in relates to cardiovascular fitness which measures the performance of the heart, lungs and muscles of the body in terms of strength and endurance. Fatness – or a better term would be obesity – refers to having fat accumulation in the body overall, possibly using BMI/ body fat percentage to quantify this.”

One of the more urgent factors to address when it comes to health is preventing obesity, according to Essa. When it comes to overcoming the issue, however, should exercise and improving fitness be put above eating well and maintaining a healthy weight? Essa commented that aiming to prevent obesity before aiming for ‘fitness’ should be the priority as it would pose greater health risks long term.

“Being obese can also potentially affect your levels of fitness since it can hinder endurance and strength.” But, ultimately it is about balance, Essa said, “We must not forget about the benefits of exercise that help improve your metabolism and your immunity. Eating a well-balanced diet together with regular physical activity would be the best approach to achieve a healthier lifestyle and reduce disease risk.

However, another angle to this debate is the Obesity Paradox. “It is a medical hypothesis that uses evidence that shows obesity in adults or patients with chronic diseases may be protective and decrease their risk of mortality,” said Essa.

However, the notion has been seriously disputed and found to have potential limitations. “Particularly when it comes to how it defines obesity. If using BMI, it considers weight as a whole including muscle, bone etc. for example a bodybuilder could have a high BMI but this would be mostly muscle mass. It’s more accurate to use body fat percentage and visceral fat levels to define obesity.”

In a world where diet culture is all around us, the image of an ideal body type is churned out through the media and on the socials of celebrities and influencers. If weight loss is your goal, Essa says it all boils down to consuming a calorie deficit.

“Maintaining a healthy weight by eating well should be prioritised. It is the calorie deficit achieved from a diet that would cause weight loss. Not to say exercise plays no role. It will help to achieve calorie expenditure and also be important in maintaining weight loss over time. It is important to remember that there isn’t a one size fits all approach to health and you need to consider each individual with varying genetic, hormonal, socioeconomic and environmental factors.”

As there is no one size fits all solution to achieving health and fitness in individual persons, people need to consider certain factors that can either help or hinder them. “What you eat would affect performance and fuel training adequately to achieve a desired level of fitness.

Genetics also play a role in whether an individual may be more weight loss resistant or more likely to gain weight. Genetics can also help determine whether strength or endurance training will be better suited for the individual to achieve weight loss.

TRY and achieve a balanaced lifestyle. | POLINA TANKILEVITCH Pexels

Being thin and slender may seem healthier than the extreme alternative of obesity but Essa revealed that both can pose - and disguise - some major health risks. “In both instances, there may be a high visceral fat percentage. This is abdominal fat that is also found around organs, compromising metabolism and increasing inflammatory markers. This can increase the risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.”