People who are 'fit but fat' are considered to be obese by their body mass index score but have none of the complications associated with obesity. Getty Images
People who are 'fit but fat' are considered to be obese by their body mass index score but have none of the complications associated with obesity. Getty Images
People who are 'fit but fat' are considered to be obese by their body mass index score but have none of the complications associated with obesity. Getty Images
People who are 'fit but fat' are considered to be obese by their body mass index score but have none of the complications associated with obesity. Getty Images

Can you be overweight and healthy?


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

France and other Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Israel have the highest number of people who are living with “metabolically healthy obesity”, researchers have said, as they called for more to be done to help people reduce their weight.

Almost one in 10 middle-aged men and more than a quarter of middle-aged women in the UK are “fit but fat”.

One study shows that 8 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women in the UK aged between 40 and 50 are metabolically healthy but obese.

The UK has similar levels seen in Sweden, Norway and Germany, experts told the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

People who are “fit but fat” are considered to be obese by their body mass index score but have none of the complications associated with obesity including abnormal blood sugar levels; high cholesterol, high blood pressures, type 2 diabetes or signs of heart disease.

Academics said that there are large regional differences over levels of “metabolically healthy obesity”, which could be down to different diets or other lifestyle factors as well as ethnic and genetic differences.

Foods that are good for heart health – in pictures

  • Oats are rich in soluble fibre, lower bad cholesterol, reduce heart disease risk and improve digestion. Photo: Łukasz Rawa / Unsplash
    Oats are rich in soluble fibre, lower bad cholesterol, reduce heart disease risk and improve digestion. Photo: Łukasz Rawa / Unsplash
  • Salmon contains high omega-3 fatty acids that support heart health, lower inflammation and regulate blood pressure. Getty Images
    Salmon contains high omega-3 fatty acids that support heart health, lower inflammation and regulate blood pressure. Getty Images
  • Berries are packed with antioxidants, improve artery function, reduce blood pressure and prevent blood clotting. Photo: Sneha Cecil / Unsplash
    Berries are packed with antioxidants, improve artery function, reduce blood pressure and prevent blood clotting. Photo: Sneha Cecil / Unsplash
  • Leafy greens are high in vitamins and minerals, lower blood pressure and support overall heart function. Getty Images
    Leafy greens are high in vitamins and minerals, lower blood pressure and support overall heart function. Getty Images
  • Nut contain healthy fats and fibre, while antioxidants improve cholesterol levels and protect the heart. Photo: Raspopova Marina / Unsplash
    Nut contain healthy fats and fibre, while antioxidants improve cholesterol levels and protect the heart. Photo: Raspopova Marina / Unsplash
  • Beans and legumes have high fibre content that reduces cholesterol absorption, stabilises blood sugar and maintains heart health. Getty Images
    Beans and legumes have high fibre content that reduces cholesterol absorption, stabilises blood sugar and maintains heart health. Getty Images
  • Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and moderately reduce the risk of heart disease. Getty Images
    Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and moderately reduce the risk of heart disease. Getty Images

“There are populations in Micronesia or Asian populations where it [metabolically healthy obesity] is down to 2 per cent to 5 per cent only,” said Matthias Bluher of the University of Leipzig and Helmholtz Centre Munich in Germany.

“Some populations may be, despite large amounts of adipose tissue, better protected against comorbidities and Caucasian populations belong to those.”

Prof Bluher said that healthy obesity is seen in a number of premenopausal women.

But he called for better weight management programmes for people who fit the profile.

He pointed to previous work which suggests people who are “healthy obese” have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart failure compared to those in a normal weight range.

“There will always be people living with obesity who seem to be protected against obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases,” he told the conference.

“The concept that metabolically healthy obesity affected people may not benefit from weight loss strategies has been challenged by recent data.

“A timely and personalised treatment of obesity should also be recommended to people living with healthier obesity.”

CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20QUALIFIER%2C%20ZIMBABWE%20
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The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper

Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

BRAZIL%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Alisson%2C%20Ederson%2C%20Weverton%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Dani%20Alves%2C%20Marquinhos%2C%20Thiago%20Silva%2C%20Eder%20Militao%20%2C%20Danilo%2C%20Alex%20Sandro%2C%20Alex%20Telles%2C%20Bremer.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Casemiro%2C%20Fred%2C%20Fabinho%2C%20Bruno%20Guimaraes%2C%20Lucas%20Paqueta%2C%20Everton%20Ribeiro.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Neymar%2C%20Vinicius%20Junior%2C%20Richarlison%2C%20Raphinha%2C%20Antony%2C%20Gabriel%20Jesus%2C%20Gabriel%20Martinelli%2C%20Pedro%2C%20Rodrygo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.

The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.

All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.

No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Porsche Macan T: The Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo 

Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm 

Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm 

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto 

Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec 

Top speed: 232kph 

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km 

On sale: May or June 

Price: From Dh259,900  

Six tips to secure your smart home

Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.

Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.

Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.

Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.

Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.

Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.

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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

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The%20specs
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The specs: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk


Price, base: Dh399,999
Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 707hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 875Nm @ 4,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 16.8L / 100km (estimate)

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

 


 

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat

Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain

Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain

Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines

Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals

Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final

UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia

All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

Updated: October 03, 2023, 10:31 PM