Research
Mixed
High fitness levels attenuate mortality risk in obese individuals, making it more beneficial to be fit and overweight than normal weight and unfit.
Do not let your weight stop you from exercising. Improving your fitness (cardiovascular capacity) significantly lowers your mortality risk, even if you are obese. It is better to be a fit overweight person than an unfit normal-weight person. Focus on building fitness through regular activity.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
These findings suggest that it is more beneficial to be fit and overweight or obese rather than normal weight and unfit.
Why this rating
Based on large cohort studies (Nurses' Health, Veterans Affairs) but observational.
Source
Physical Activity, Health Benefits, and Mortality Risk
Peter Kokkinos · ISRN Cardiology · 2012
DOI 10.5402/2012/718789
narrative_reviewCited 289×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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