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Can You Be Fit and “Fat?”

Discover why weight isn’t always a predictor of health.

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine took a look at men who are “fat and fit”—that is, their workouts have given them high levels of cardiovascular fitness but they are considered overweight or even obese. The researchers discovered that the higher a man’s fitness level, the less fat he carries in his abdominal cavity. And it’s that excess abdominal fat that previous studies have linked to a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The upshot: If you’re working out but haven’t yet reached your goal weight, remember that you’re still doing your body a world of good by keeping fit. If you’re normal weight but not exercising, you too can benefit from working out! Being slim but having a “spare tire” can boost your heart disease risk.