Research
Mixed
High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) attenuates or eliminates the mortality risk associated with high BMI, such that 'fit' obese individuals have lower mortality risk than 'unfit' normal-weight individuals.
If you have a high BMI, focus on improving your cardiorespiratory fitness through regular aerobic exercise. This can significantly reduce your mortality risk, potentially to levels lower than someone with a normal BMI who is physically unfit. Fitness is a vital sign.
StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
overweight and obesity in conjunction with moderate-to-high CRF (fit) were associated with a lower death rate than adults in the unfit normal-weight category.
Why this rating
Based on meta-analyses of multiple cohort studies.
Source
Obesity treatment: Weight loss versus increasing fitness and physical activity for reducing health risks
Glenn A. Gaesser et al. · iScience · 2021
narrative_reviewCited 149×
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →