Why a slim body MIGHT NOT BE A HEALTHY ONE

This month, our expert Annie Deadman reveals why eating well is essential, no matter what size your clothing labels say

- Annie Deadman

Sitting on the bus the other day, I overheard a conversation between two women. They were discussing a female friend of theirs who had died suddenly from a heart attack. 'Such a shock!' one of them declared. 'How could that happen? She was always so slim, not an ounce of fat on her.' In today's body-and-diet-obsessed world, slim is often viewed as the aim, the target, the holy grail of happiness. But is slimness or leanness also an indicator of being in good physical health?

I'm not going to beat around the bush, being overweight or obese can have a serious impact on health, for sure. The World Health Organization (WHO) says 'carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences, such as cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, and some cancers'. It goes on to say that this 'can cause premature death and substantial disability'. Sobering thought, eh?