Being fat but healthy is a MYTH! Carrying extra pounds ‘still puts you at much higher risk of dying young’

BEING fat but fit is a myth, a major study claims.

It found lardy adults with normal health readings – such as cholesterol and blood pressure – are still at much higher risk of dying young.

A study of 3.5 million Brits found having excess fat increases the risk of suffering heart disease by half.

It also raises the chances of stroke and almost doubles the likelihood of heart failure.

Previous research has claimed up to one in three obese people are healthy despite carrying an extra tyre around their waist.

It suggested that some can remain “fat but fit” – having normal blood pressure, cholesterol and avoid diabetes, despite having a BMI in excess of 30.

Now a team from the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham has cast doubt on this idea, in the biggest study of its kind.

Lead researcher, Dr Rishi Caleyachetty, said: “The idea of being healthily obese is a myth and there is much that health professionals and people who are obese can do to reduce their risk of disease.”

The study is being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto.

It analysed 20 years of health records for 3.5 million adults who were initially free from heart disease.

Experts found that compared to healthy people of a normal weight, those regarded as healthy and fat were 49 per cent more likely to suffer heart disease.

They also had a seven per cent higher risk of stroke and a 96 per cent increased risk of heart failure.

Dr Caleyachetty added: “Metabolically healthy obesity is not a harmless condition, and it would be incorrect to think so.

“It’s actually better not to use this term as it can create a lot of confusion.”

More than one in four adults are obese – compared to just one in 35 in the 70s.

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said the findings challenge an “age-old myth”.

He said: “This is another study highlighting that, if you are overweight, you are more likely to suffer from heart disease.”

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