Being Skinny Doesn't mean that you are Fit

There is no argument that being at a healthy body weight plays an important role in leading a healthy lifestyle, but it does not necessarily mean that a thin person is physically fit. A thin person who is physically inactive may be at increased risk for developing serious health conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This risk is also elevated if a thin person’s diet is filled with fatty or sugary foods instead of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods.
A recent study conducted by Dr. Jimmy Bell, a professor of molecular imaging at Imperial College in London, has revealed that some people who appear to be thin may actually be storing fat around their vital internal organs, such as the heart and liver. During the study, Dr. Bell and his team scanned almost 800 people with MRI machines to generate “fat maps” that reveal where they store fat in their bodies. People who maintain their body weight through diet instead of exercise are more susceptible to having large deposits of internal fat, according to Dr. Bell.
If you are interested in measuring your physical fitness level, there are a number of factors that your family physical can use to determine if you are indeed physically fit. These factors include:
Cardiorespiratory endurance. Your cardiovascular endurance is determined by measuring your ability to perform moderately strenuous activity over a period of time. It shows how well your heart and lungs are working together to provide your body with oxygen during physical exertion. Walking, bicycling and swimming are all good forms of exercise that can help increase your cardiovascular endurance.
Muscular strength. Your ability to exert maximum force, such as lifting the heaviest weight you can, determines your muscle strength. You may also have more muscle strength in one part of your body, such as your arms, but not in your legs, depending on your regular workout routine. To improve your muscle strength, try doing exercises such as weight lifting or climbing stairs rapidly.
Muscular endurance. Muscle endurance is the ability of your muscles to repeatedly generate force and the amount of time they can maintain an activity. Performing cardiorespiratory activities such as jogging, dancing or bicycling can help strengthen your muscular endurance.
Flexibility. Your flexibility level is gauged by your ability to move a joint through its complete range of motion. Having good flexibility plays an important role in helping you avoid injury while doing physical activities. If you would like to improve your flexibility, incorporate stretching movements in your routine.
Body composition. The percentage of fat, muscle and bone in your body determines your body composition. The National Institute of Health recommends that a healthy adult male should be composed of 13 to 17% fat and a female should have between 20 to 21% fat. Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier diet, achieving a healthy body weight, and increasing your physical activity level can help reduce the amount of fat in your body.