Look - Obesity is more dependent on diet than activity levels. This is very well known. You can see this yourself by doing some simple calculations (Slashdotters may like this). First, take a look at how many calories your favorite snack is (maybe a piece of chocolate cake or a Whopper or a whole bag of Doritos). Then, check any site that estimates your calorie consumption by doing some physical activity for a certain period of time. Calculate how long it takes you to excercise enough to burn off that extra snack. Then come back here and read the next paragraph.
What you will have found is that it takes a LOT of physical activity to make up for what most of us consider to be a moderate snack. This is why the AMOUNT OF FOOD that you eat has more bearing on obesity than ACTIVITY LEVELS. However, diet alone doesn't determine your overall health, although it does have a HUGE impact (pun unintentional). Excercise also determines a lot of your health. To be really healthy, you should avoid overeating AND get lots of excercise, just like everyone knows you should. Sure, there are some fat people who are "healthier" than some skinny people. And sure, there are some couch potatoes who are "healthier" than some athletes. But these EXCUSES do not mean that you are justified in either sitting on your lazy butt or eating that cheesecake - people try to twist results like this all the time to say that they're doing perfectly fine the way they are. The take home message for YOU is this:
If I eat better and maintain a reasonable weight, will I be healthier? YES
If I excercise more and maintain cardiovascular fitness and weight-bearing strength, will I be healthier? YES
Don't try to make excuses. Note that we are talking about HEALTH benefits here. I'm not addressing the complications of appearance and self-esteem. That's a whole other can of worms.
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Look - Obesity is more dependent on diet than activity levels. This is very well known. You can see this yourself by doing some simple calculations (Slashdotters may like this). First, take a look at how many calories your favorite snack is (maybe a piece of chocolate cake or a Whopper or a whole bag of Doritos). Then, check any site that estimates your calorie consumption by doing some physical activity for a certain period of time. Calculate how long it takes you to excercise enough to burn off that extra snack. Then come back here and read the next paragraph.
What you will have found is that it takes a LOT of physical activity to make up for what most of us consider to be a moderate snack. This is why the AMOUNT OF FOOD that you eat has more bearing on obesity than ACTIVITY LEVELS. However, diet alone doesn't determine your overall health, although it does have a HUGE impact (pun unintentional). Excercise also determines a lot of your health. To be really healthy, you should avoid overeating AND get lots of excercise, just like everyone knows you should. Sure, there are some fat people who are "healthier" than some skinny people. And sure, there are some couch potatoes who are "healthier" than some athletes. But these EXCUSES do not mean that you are justified in either sitting on your lazy butt or eating that cheesecake - people try to twist results like this all the time to say that they're doing perfectly fine the way they are. The take home message for YOU is this:
If I eat better and maintain a reasonable weight, will I be healthier? YES
If I excercise more and maintain cardiovascular fitness and weight-bearing strength, will I be healthier? YES
Don't try to make excuses. Note that we are talking about HEALTH benefits here. I'm not addressing the complications of appearance and self-esteem. That's a whole other can of worms.