Can one be obese and still healthy?

I think you can be obese and feel healthy, but damage is being to your body and you may not feel it right away, but over time it builds up to where it's noticeable. The body may handle it for awhile but eventually it'll give in.

Before I got sidelined with a couple car accidents I was working at my job as a Letter carrier walking about  5 miles a day and I was in the morbidly obese weight limit but felt fantastic running stairs carrying upwards of  50 lbs of mail. I have never felt better even when I was small and eating well and working out. I also ate well during this time but not small portions. I have since done nothing but gain as I don't get in the same exersice and I AM  going through the process of weight loss surgery! So my  very long answer is to say yes you can be healthy and over weight.   I do think though better to get to a healthy weight just work toward being  healthy cuz u don't know what may side line u in the future. Like smoking or drinking  it all catches up in the long run

I am 62 years old. I was obese for at least 30 of those years. The toll on my joints has been immense. I would also mention that although it is not right the outside world judges you. I think if you can get healthy through moderation on your own that is great. I tried that for years and yo-yo dieted. You may not develop diabetes but you will shorten your life from other medical issues

Obesity IS a disease so technically, no, by virtue of being obese you are not and cannot be healthy. You are already sick, with obesity. You may not have other co-morbidities such as HBP or diabetes or sleep apnea but those are co-morbs. The main disease you have already. It is kind of like diabetes. People who are asymptomatic (don't YET have neuropathy and retinal damage and still have all their limbs) think they are 'healthy' diabetics. Ain't no such thing...them beta cells are dying by the hundreds. So don't kid yourself. You have a disease called obesity. You have an opportunity to put it in remission. But there is no lifetime cure.

great point.

Not everyone elects to have surgery. It may not be right for some people. This site is called Obesity Help not Obesity Help for Weight Loss Patients Only. So even though most people will jump in with their story of weight loss surgery, I won't. You're on the right track reading all the information you can for all of your options. What you do in the end is ultimately up to you. Either way, I wish you the best outcome in what ever you decide.

No-one has jumped in with wls stories or recommendations. As everyone eise who has posted says, I believe excess weight needs to be shed! By whatever means, with or without surgery.  Obese people may be healthy but there is strain on every part of the body.  I like K White's smoker analogy. It may not kill you, ruin your health, damage your organs or joints - but it raises the chances!

I didn't mean to be inflammatory. Let me change two words of the sentence that you called-me out on. "So even though SOME people MAY jump in with their story of weight loss surgery." It's an observation I had about this site that may deter people who aren't asking about surgery or want to know about surgery. Even though it's called Obesity Help, it seems more about WLS. I just wanted the OP to know they have support here and not assume that WLS is the ultimate goal for everyone. I come from a family of obesity and feel for, and cheer on, those trying on their own; or living with obesity. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself from now on.

Sorry, Lori! I did sound a bit aggressive! Didn't mean to! Please don't keep your thoughts to yourself! Kate

No. As far as I know, an obese person cannot be healthy since there are underlying health problems that may occur because of obesity. One of which is heart disease.