Fitness And Health Are Not The Same Thing - Position Statement
NAAAFP recognizes that fitness is not the same thing as health.
Confusing the two is a source of problems.
Even though they may be related, even though
fit people may be healthy and even though healthy people may be fit, health and
fitness are not equivalent.
Fitness is subjective. It is knowable. One knows that they are fit because they can participate in life as they choose. It is an evaluation and conclusion a person can make.
Health is not so subjective. One cannot know the condition of their health until
it is too late. By the time one is aware of their health, they are already sick.
Health is much more objective than fitness. Objective, that is, given the
current level of medical knowledge. The health of a person's body is a secret
hidden within and from them. The only way to find out, is to go and see a sick
care professional and have tests performed that might tell.
As an example, elevated blood cholesterol is associated with health problems:
e.g., heart attack, chest pain and stroke. It is not possible to know if one's
cholesterol is elevated based on how fit they are or how they feel.
The only way to find out is to go and get blood taken and analyzed.
By
way of illustration, consider the following:
One example of the disconnect between fitness and health is Walter Payton, the
fabled Chicago Bears running back. No one looking at “Sweetness” (his
nickname) would likely have said he was unfit or unhealthy. The man was built
like a rock. Yet Sweetness died at a young age from a type of liver cancer. Fit,
yes. Healthy, no.
Compare Walter with his teammate, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, who is still alive. The “Fridge” is a mountain of a man. No one looking at The Fridge would likely have declared him fit or healthy. Certainly not compared to Walter. But Fridge is still alive.
Walter
was clearly less healthy than The Fridge.
Health is a statistical concept. Health is a lower probability of developing certain illnesses.
Fitness and health are related tangentially at weight.
The relationship between fitness and health is most objective when it comes to weight.
When one's body mass index is between 18.5 and 24.9, their likelihood of developing certain illnesses is lessened.
Especially when it comes to weight, a person has control over his or her fitness.
A person has much less control over their health.
The most control a person has relating to their health is through fitness. In fact, realistically speaking and given current knowledge, fitness is almost the only control a person has over their health.
Fitness And Health Are Not The Same Thing - Advocacy Letter
Fitness is not the same thing as health.
Confusing the two is a source of problems.
Even though they may be related, even though
fit people may be healthy and even though healthy people may be fit, health and
fitness are not equivalent.
Fitness is subjective. It is knowable. One knows that they are fit because they can participate in life as they choose. It is an evaluation and conclusion a person can make.
Health is not so subjective. One cannot know the condition of their health until
it is too late. By the time one is aware of their health, they are already sick.
Health is much more objective than fitness. Objective, that is, given the
current level of medical knowledge. The health of a person's body is a secret
hidden within and from them. The only way to find out, is to go and see a sick
care professional
and have tests performed that might tell.
As an example, elevated blood cholesterol is associated with health problems:
e.g., heart attack, chest pain and stroke. It is not possible to know if one's
cholesterol is elevated based on how fit they are or how they feel.
The only way to find out is to go and get blood taken and analyzed.
By
way of illustration, consider the following:
One example of the disconnect between fitness and health is Walter Payton, the
fabled Chicago Bears running back. No one looking at “Sweetness” (his
nickname) would likely have said he was unfit or unhealthy. The man was built
like a rock. Yet Sweetness died at a young age from a type of liver cancer. Fit,
yes. Healthy, no.
Compare Walter with his teammate, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, who is still alive. The “Fridge” is a mountain of a man. No one looking at The Fridge would likely have declared him fit or healthy. Certainly not compared to Walter. But Fridge is still alive.
Walter
was clearly less healthy than The Fridge.
Health is a statistical concept. Health is a lower probability of developing certain illnesses.
Fitness and health are related tangentially at weight.
The relationship between fitness and health is most objective when it comes to weight.
When one's body mass index is between 18.5 and 24.9, their likelihood of developing certain illnesses is lessened.
Especially when it comes to weight, a person has control over his or her fitness.
A person has much less control over their health.
The most control a person has relating to their health is through fitness. In fact, realistically speaking and given current knowledge, fitness is almost the only control a person has over their health.
I expect the following from you:
A clear and immediate public declaration that fitness and health are not one and the same
A clear and immediate public declaration that encourages the entire population to achieve at least a minimal level of fitness through weight control, which for most people is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
A clear and immediate public declaration that educates the entire population to the fact that fitness is the best, if not the only, way a person can reliably and certainly improve their health
Thank you for your attention to this important, life-saving matter.