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Why is it so easy to get fat?
And what’s the easiest way to start getting slimmer?
I’m writing this article because I’m far too fat, and if you’re reading it, maybe the spectre of obesity haunts your thoughts as well. As social attitudes towards body shapes have broadened with a growing number of plus size models and stars, I think it’s worth clarifying what I mean by ‘far too fat.’ In my mind, and for the purpose of this article, if you are carrying any weight which makes you more prone to preventable illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, cancer or arthritis, you are too fat. If you want to eyeball it; you’re too fat if you don’t have a flat stomach, or you have love handles. I’m not making concessions for age. My paternal uncle lived well into his 80’s and never had a spare tyre.
Whether or not you think being fat is beautiful has no bearing on the fact the adverse health benefits of excess body fat far outweigh any perceived benefits.
Ideally I’d like to be as slim as I was in my teens when my legs looked like an anatomy diagram, I could always see at least four of my abdominals and I had no idea what love handles were. I’ve gained a lot of weight since then, and my body fat percentage has doubled from below 10% to around 18%.
Everybody seems to get a little more padded with age don’t they? But is the…
