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Fat Geeks Healthier Than You Thought
DoubleWhopper writes "Sound the trumpets! Being a fat geek may not increase your risk of death after all. According to this ABC News article, a re-examination of the available data suggests obesity is still a health risk, but the 'pleasantly plump' among us 'do not have the same health risks as obese individuals.' But, from the article: 'People shouldn't think that this study gives them a free trip to the pork rind buffet.' Believe what you want, but you'd better hope I don't get to the Twinkies aisle before you."
It doesn't really matter if you're skinny, plump, or fat until you actually reach the "obese" limit. But even if you aren't obese, that doesn't mean you're living healthy. Everyone remembers that kid who ate nothing but fries, ho-hos, and mountain dew but still weighed 140 pounds at 6' tall all through high school and college (perhaps some of you were that kid). The damage done to that body is way beyong someone who eats fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods but weighs in at 220 pounds and 6' tall. Just watch your diet and do some exercise during the week. If your metabolism is a little slow and you hold onto a little more weight, it's fine.
That is a serious condition called gynecomastia.
If you have it, get to a doctor ASAP! You likely have severe endocrine problems. Make sure they find and treat those problems (likely high estrogen and low testosterone) and not just say "you're fat".
Endocrine problems can lead to diabetes (itself an endocrine problem), depression (sometimes to the point of suicide or commitment to an insane asylum), forgetfulness (sometimes permanent), anxiety (to the point of phobias), loss of concentration (to the point you are ineffective at work), rage (to the point of danger), high blood pressure (to the point of severe headaches, and possible heart attack and stroke), and osteoporosis (to the point of fractures and stooped posture - yes, this can and does occur in men too). Hot flashes can also occur.
I forgot to mention - NO SEX DRIVE!
Keeping this anonymous because I suffered from endocrine problems (only minor boobs). Luckily my endo put me on some meds which control most of the endocrine problems. Still some boobs, but hopefully those'll go away.