Hamilton (eCanadaNow) -New research suggests that it may be more important for people over 60 to be fit rather than thin.
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that while maintaining a health weight is still important, cardiovascular fitness appears to be more important.
Dr. Steven Blair of the University of South Carolina who was one of the researchers involved in the study said that even if you are obese, your chance of death is decreased if you are fit.
He says, "In fact, even if you're obese and fit your death rate is no different than the normal weight person who is fit."
Researchers say it is possible to be obese and fit, by exercising.
Blair said that to be considered "fit" you need to be walking 30 minutes a day, five day per week.
The study is important because of the aging population and the health problems associated with obesity.
“By 2030, approximately 70 million people will be older than 65,” Blair said. “Already we know that nearly one-third of Americans are obese, and the majority of adults do not get enough physical activity.”
The study, conducted between 1979 and 2001 and involving over 2,000 people, is published in the Dec. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
