This has been quite a month for turning conventional health wisdom on its head. First came word that some experts think that low-fat eating recommendations is on its way out. And now, via Reuters, we
read that the much-maligned apple-shaped body might not be such a bad thing after all.
For years, we’ve heard warnings that people who carry weight in their midsection, rather in their rear end or thighs, are at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attack than their pear-shaped peers. But new research out from the Lancet medical journal suggests that obesity itself is the risk factor in these scenarios – not body type. As researcher John Danesh of Britain's Cambridge University summarized, "Basically, all obesity types are broadly as bad as each other" when it comes to heart health.
The encouraging part of all this news? Our heart health isn’t being impacted by the arbitrary places our bodies happen to store extra calories. The key issue here is obesity, which we can address with healthier eating and a more active lifestyle. It might not be easy, but at least it’s in our power to change.