Another study exploring the relationship between being fat, being fit, and living longer has found that lower fitness is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality, even after adjustment for adiposity. In the study, obese subjects who were fit had a lower risk of dying than normal-weight subjects who were physically inactive.

"It may be possible to reduce all-cause death rates among older adults, including those who are obese, by promoting regular physical activity on most days of the week which will keep most individuals out of the low-fitness category," the authors, led by Dr Xuemei Sui (University of South Carolina, Columbia), write in the December 5, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study tracked a cohort of 2603 adults aged 60 or over for a mean of 12 years, during which time 450 people died. Adjusted death rates were lowest for people with the lowest body-mass index (BMI), lowest waist circumference, or in the highest quintile for fitness level — this last that held true even in severely obese subjects, who were much less likely to die if their fitness levels were higher. When fitness was factored into the waist circumference analysis and vice versa, fitness predicted mortality risk regardless of smoking, baseline health, BMI, waist circumference, or percent body fat, whereas waist circumference was no longer significantly associated with increased mortality after fitness was considered.

"Normal-weight individuals in our study had greater longevity only if they were physically fit; furthermore, obese individuals who were fit did not have increased mortality," the authors conclude.

Focusing on physical activity, not fat  Read More

Tip 1 - Achievable exercise
Remember when you used to run around all day at school and then come home and play outside until you got called in for dinner?  Were you overweight then?  So what has changed in your life to make you overweight now?  Move it or gain it!  You can’t simply stop eating, so counter the kilojoules you take in, with achievable exercise to burn them off.  In addition to weight loss you will also become fitter, stronger, more confident, look great and feel fantastic.  Can you afford not to exercise? Read More

The reality of our busy lives these days is that at some point in time, you will be eating out. This may be due to work requirements, special events or simply picking up some take away on the way home to avoid cooking. Eating out can test your resolve as far as healthy eating goes.  Read More

1. Use it or lose it. As with any skill or capability we have learned, our physical, mental and social abilities will deteriorate if not challenged. This is intuitive, yet somehow as we age we attribute lost ability to getting old, rather than being out of shape or out of practice. Read More

Some people are interested in increasing muscle mass to enhance their look, strength and power.  The Australian Institute of Sport helps grow our countries best muscles and here, they help the rest of us. There is a lot of confusion as to how to go about increasing muscle size and function but here is a step by step guide to 'grow your own'.

Step 1: Start with a good training program
Muscles need stimulation to grow.  Seek expert advice from a reputable strength coach. Adjust your program as your strength develops. Read More