It’s Not ALL About the Weight

Tom Jordan, MS, RD

At First Health Associates, we believ e that the first step to getting your health in line is getting your weight in line. The negative impacts of obesity are very well indicated, however the primary health risk is that excess body weight causes an inflammatory environment within the body and decreases insulin sensitivity, both of which can cause a host of major medical concerns.

News out of Alaska…..

However, identifying your health based on your BMI doesn’t make sense either. Expanding on this concept, a recent study investigated a group of overweight Eskimos and found that they did not have the elevation in Triglycerides that usually comes with having excess body fat. Furthermore, their levels of C-Reactive Protein (a marker of inflammation) were also much lower than expected. The researchers suspected there may be a dietary factor causing this paradox.

Omega-3’s: Your Link to Heart Health

One outstanding fact about Eskimos is that they consume an abundance of fatty fish such as salmon. This results in consumption of approximately 20 times the omega-3 fatty acids that non-Alaskan Americans take in. The two essential omega’s, docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been very well established as having anti-inflammatory and triglyceride lowering effects. In this study, researchers were able to show that despite being overweight, eating plenty of omega-3’s may be able to counteract some of the negative impacts of obesity.

The Bottom Line

Getting your weight in line is still the key to getting your health in line, but it is clearly not the end-all-be-all. Many studies similar to this have shown that overweight exercises are healthier than normal weight couch potatoes, and that stress can trump both diet and exercise benefits. At First Health, we believe healthy living is about putting all of the pieces together:

1) Proper Nutrition*

2) Regular Physical Activity

3) Stress Management

4) Regular Annual Physicals and

Age Appropriate Screenings

*Proper Nutrition Starts with a base of high fiber carbohydrates (whole grains, beans, and fruit), includes lots of healthy fats (salmon, nuts, avocadoes, olive oil), and a colorful array of antioxidant filled veggies. Working with a Registered Dietitian to put these foods in proper proportion and learning how to still incorporate “other” foods into a healthy diet is one of the keys to managing both weight and health.

Click here for motivational stories of patients who have turned around much more than their weight.

 

References: Makhoul Z et al. Associations of obesity with triglycerides and C-reactive protein are attenuated in adults with high red blood cell EPA and DHA. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2011; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.39