The aerobic exercise craze of the 1980s reemphasized fitness for women. At the same time, dieting became a multibillion dollar industry. Current models and Miss America contestants are thinner than ever. With both eating disorders and obesity on the rise, it is clear that many American women are striving for unattainable goals. With an ideal that's constantly changing, women are becoming even more frustrated with their weight and other body image issues.
Metabolic fitness means having normal values for blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar.
Too much weight, of course, contributes negatively to metabolic fitness. But so do inactivity, a high fat diet and many other factors. He defines this as the weight at which your body feels healthy and is free of disease. Gaesser notes that some people are naturally thinner, while others are naturally heavier. You can still be fit and healthy with a few extra pounds.