- Lean and longevity go together. The older we get, the more serious the health consequences of excess body fat become. This is why being lean is so important for longevity. Lean does not mean skinny, which can imply not having enough body fat. What it really means is having the right amount of body fat for your particular body type.
Becoming lean does not necessarily have to do with weight loss. Muscle and bone weigh more than fat. Becoming lean in a healthy way actually makes you stronger because you are building stronger muscles and bones while losing excess fat.
Excess body fat, especially around the middle (waist) raises the risk of just about every disease you can get:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- arthritis
- asthma
- cancer,
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- vison loss, etc.
These illnesses are the number one cause of disability and a shorter lifespan. In fact, individuals with an excess waist size are usually given the medical term “prediabetic.”