Does Exercise Make Up For Obesity?

Does exercise make up for the health risks associated with obesity?

It's unlikely, according to a Swedish study of 1.3 million young men.

Males who were overweight but in shape had a thirty percent higher risk of premature death, when compared to thin men who did little exercise.

“Unfit normal-weight individuals had a 30-per-cent lower risk of death from any cause than did fit obese individuals.” - Professor Peter Nordstrom of Umea University in Sweden

The idea moderate excess weight might be good - the so-called obesity paradox - is probably wrong.

“These results suggest low BMI (body mass index) early in life is more important than high physical fitness, with regard to reducing the risk of early death,” said Nordstrom.

Do you consider yourself to be fat, but fit?