For example: A person in a larger body who walks 10,000 steps a day, eats vegetables, and has normal blood pressure is likely metabolically healthy, despite their BMI. A "thin" person who smokes, never moves, and binge drinks is not.
Chronic body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. When you spend hours a day critiquing your reflection or calculating calories, there is little mental bandwidth left for joy, creativity, or connection.
Adopting this lifestyle is not always rainbows and self-love affirmations. Be prepared for:
: Minimize excessive salt, free sugars, and trans-fats to support heart and metabolic health.