Fat and fit or slim but unfit - which is better?

[TeenLifeMum]

I’m currently a “healthy” weight but a year ago I was a stone heavier gained over 3 years during a very tricky time of my life.

pre weight gain I was running 5 and 10ks 3 times a week and a half marathon early 2020. An injury (tripping and dislocating my big toe) meant running reduced at the time the stress weight gain began but I was soon back running, just less than before. I was also doing strength training 1-2 times a week.

my 5k in 2020 was sub 30 minutes and now it’s more like 36 minutes but I’m older and have no desire to run a half marathon so only doing 5kms. I’ve been able to run continuously throughout at all weights.

so, this made me think. When I was 2stone over weight (which classed as obese and I was wearing size 14 clothes with an hour glass figure rather than apple - might make a difference from what I’ve read) was I healthier than someone who had a 24 bmi but did zero exercise?

I doubt there is sufficient granularity in the data to prove this one way or the other. We all know people who weigh extraordinarily heavy for their size, often if they are very muscly, ditto the skinny fat with low body weight but high levels of visceral fat / TOFI. But the data used for BMI classes everyone by height and weight only.

IIRC, the statistically most long lived BMI is 26, again no data on whether this is people who have always had this BMI or those who started in the “healthy” range and crept up a bit towards later life or those who were very heavy and then lost it.

what seems to be clearer is that good levels of activity are cardio protective and possibly also protect brain health , having a strong core means you can get off the loo by yourself when elderly and prevent falls, so if you value your independence, keep up with the fitness regardless of weight!