Being active is more important than just being thin to live a long, healthy life. A recent study, one of the most comprehensive to date, found that being in poor shape significantly increases your risk of dying early, no matter your age or weight.

The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from 20 studies involving nearly 4,00,000 people around the world. It found that people who were ineligible were two to three times more likely to die prematurely, regardless of whether they were overweight, obese or of normal weight.

Interestingly, the study showed that obese individuals who were aerobically fit had about half the risk of dying early compared to unfit people of normal weight.

Being aerobically fit means that your heart, lungs, and muscles work together efficiently to provide your body with the energy it needs during physical activity.

It measures how well your body can use oxygen for activities such as walking, running, cycling or swimming. If you are aerobically fit, you can do these activities for longer periods of time without tiring quickly.

fitness over weight

“This study shows that it is more important to focus on fitness than weight when it comes to health and longevity,” lead researcher Siddharth Angadi, an exercise physiologist at the University of Virginia, told the New Zealand Herald.

Research highlights that staying active can offset the health risks associated with obesity. Earlier studies have also shown that exercise reduces the risk of early death by 30%, even if weight loss does not, outperforming the benefits of dieting alone.

The participants in the study were divided into two groups:

Fit group: People who scored in the top 80% of fitness tests based on their age and gender.
Disqualified group: Those in the bottom 20%.

What were the results?

Unfit individuals were twice as likely to die early as those who were fit, even if their weight was normal.

Obese but fit participants had better survival rates than normal-weight individuals who were unfit.

Good news? It doesn’t take much time to go from unfit to fit. Moderate activities like brisk walking can significantly improve fitness levels. To walk fast means to walk at a pace where you can talk but not sing.

“Just moving more can make a big difference,” Angadi said.

The researchers recommended spending less time worrying about weight and focusing more on regular physical activity.

Studies now confirm that aerobic fitness is a stronger predictor of long-term health than body weight.