Fit Still Means Fat

I awoke today to a Google alert that had this article on a recent study on physical activity and obesity in children.

In my new book Strong Kids Healthy Kids, I mention that in my research into the subject, physical activity did little if anything to help kids lose weight. This study seems to be another nail in the coffin for the current recommendations to get kids more active to help them lean up.

What research and my own work reveals is that weight lifting and eating right is the answer.

However, the article does mention that the active kids were healthier. Their blood pressure was better, cholesterol levels improved, insulin resistance declined, etc. after they became more active.

I raise a Mr. Spock eyebrow at this. Somehow this doesn't seem right to me. I'll try to get my hands on the actual study and report back with my findings.

But this study and other like it continue to shed light on the very real fact that physical activity is not the solution for getting kids (or anyone else for that matter) leaner.

Comments

[Fred Hahn]

I have no idea what you mean - can you clarify?

[Fat Burners]

I think fat kids will not always be healthier.But your article is very nice.Thanks for your information.

[Anna]

I have a 10 year old, so I see a lot of kids of all sizes and fitness levels. Nearly all the parents I know who have kids that have gained/are gaining too much weight are making lots of effort to keep their kids active in sports and extracurricular activities and they think they are feeding the right kinds of foods to their kids.

Yet, the kids keep gaining. One thing I observe is that these kids' appetites increase with all the extra activity. And of course, the parents generally follow the conventional wisdom and restrict the natural fats that kids need for energy, growth, and neural development, but provide ample juices, energy drinks/bars, and "whole grain" snacks (especially low calorie ones) throughout the day, in other words, too much sugar and starch, which raises insulin and prevents release of stored fatty acids, so of course, they gain instead of burning their stored energy (fat deposits). It's sad, really.

Looking forward to buying your book, Fred. My own son eats a mostly home-prepared diet of nutrient dense foods and lots of natural fats (not too much sugar or starch) and maintains a very good weight for his height. He gets plenty of activity in soccer and playing without us having to look for ways to add physical activity, but I think learning more about strength development can only be good.

[Fred Hahn]

Allow me to clarify - lean kids are not more active than healthy kids. It's a per kid sort of deal. I just find it hard to believe that a kid who is carting around 20 extra pounds has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.

[Sam]

Well, any physical activity should make anyone more healthy in general.
It might not make you lean, but a lot of stuff in our body needs us to move to work.

Lymph, for example, does not move on it's own, like blood, but needs us to move our body to 'flow' through our body.

So if you don't move, lymph won't flow, and you'll get bodily problems. The more you move (yes, any movement), the better the flow of lymph.

You might not get leaner this way, but you sure should get healthier.