Your level of fitness isn’t limited to the number you see on your scale or the size of your biceps. Research suggests there are four main indicators that together assess our fitness: aerobic health, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
Remember, being thin isn’t the same as being healthy. In fact, a study released in 2008 suggests that you can be fat and fit and thin and unhealthy. The researcher behind it found that 1 in 4 people has an underlying condition, like high blood pressure. And this applies to many people who look great to the naked eye, and often stay that way no matter what they eat. This unhealthy bunch — those who eat donuts for breakfast, avoid vegetables and seldom consider what they put in their mouths — have earned the moniker “skinny fat”; others suggest this group suffers from “normal weight obesity” (NWO). A 2015 report suggests that many people with a seemingly normal BMI (body mass index) have a significantly higher risk of metabolic problems and death despite the way they look.
So, how healthy are you? The following metrics can help tell you.
First, figure out your resting heart rate. For your heart to be considered healthy, the typical adult’s resting heart rate should fall between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Check your pulse by placing your index and middle fingers (not your thumb) on either the side of your neck or the inside of your wrist. Set a timer for 15 seconds and count the beats. Multiply the number of beats by four.
