Is it that bad to be skinny?

[Luxferre]

I'm a male, new to the forum, turning 18 on sunday, and from Argentina.

I'm 6,15 feet, 145 lb. So, as you imagine, I'm pretty skinny.

As for health problems, I do have a little trouble with my posture, and I'm working on it, seeing specialists and everything. Apart from that, maybe I don't sleep that well (I'm involuntarely byphasic, since I fall asleep at 1-2 AM and wake up at 7 AM, and then take a nap when I'm back from school). In a few weeks I'm finishing up high school though, and plan to correct my sleep habit.

Now, all I care about is health. I want to plan my life only acording to that. I'm planning on a research career so mental focus/health is a pretty big deal for me, and also longevity (simply because I want to live for as long as I can). And I'm just realizing all of this, since I spent my life so far not caring that much about health, and that has been pretty detrimental.

Now, what would be the best approach towards what I want? I'm going to borrow a health definition from "Lifeisamazing", which I consider better than most official ones:
- Being energized for an entire day
- Having pain-free and restriction-free movement
- Emotionally good feeling
- Good performance (both mental and physical)
- Longevity

That is exactly what I want, but not more. I honestly don't care about what others thinks, which might be a problem sometimes though. I just care about health right now.

So, I have three basic questions.

1: If all I care is health, do I really need to work out or can I stay skinny and still be healthy? I'm asking this because I don't consider myself healthy right now. I have anxiety which causes hard time falling asleep, muscle soreness, my back problem, etc. But I aim to fix everything, that's why I'm asking.

2: I especially care about longevity. It's been proven that calorie restriction slows down aging. Now, as I understand it, a thin person needs less calories to mantain weight than a "normal", fat, bodybuilder or athletic person. So, isn't being thin (even thinner than normal) actually good for longevity? Of course, you can contract a disease or get hit by a car, but doesn't it extend maximal life span?

3: What exercises should I pursue? I was thinking swimming, yoga, Tai Chi or even a combination of those.

[IvyW]

you need to workout as well as focusing on diet. Look into weight training along with yoga, swimming & tai chi.. find what works for you! everyone is unique so no one here can tell you what is best for you. experiment

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Luxferre

1: If all I care is health, do I really need to work out or can I stay skinny and still be healthy?

Sure, skinny people can be very healthy and fit.

[Criseyde]

Being thin is fine as long as you don't get TOO thin (eg anorectics).

But to answer your question: YES, you need to work out or become physically active. Physical activity is integral to physical and emotional health. Notice all the photos ALG posted are of athletic types!

Lean body mass is an excellent predictor of health, much more so than body weight. You don't need to become a bodybuilder, but diet/activity that builds muscle is a good thing.

[Curious cat]

Originally Posted by Luxferre

Now, what would be the best approach towards what I want? I'm going to borrow a health definition from "Lifeisamazing", which I consider better than most official ones:
- Being energized for an entire day
- Having pain-free and restriction-free movement
- Emotionally good feeling
- Good performance (both mental and physical)
- Longevity

1: If all I care is health, do I really need to work out or can I stay skinny and still be healthy? I'm asking this because I don't consider myself healthy right now. I have anxiety which causes hard time falling asleep, muscle soreness, my back problem, etc. But I aim to fix everything, that's why I'm asking.

2: I especially care about longevity. It's been proven that calorie restriction slows down aging. Now, as I understand it, a thin person needs less calories to mantain weight than a "normal", fat, bodybuilder or athletic person. So, isn't being thin (even thinner than normal) actually good for longevity? Of course, you can contract a disease or get hit by a car, but doesn't it extend maximal life span?

3: What exercises should I pursue? I was thinking swimming, yoga, Tai Chi or even a combination of those.

1. It depends on how you define 'healthy'. If you don't work out but maintain a healthy diet, that could be considered healthy. My in-laws take freshly squeezed juice, eat plenty of fruit and veg, fish, rice etc, they don't work out at a gym but do activities such as competitive lawn bowls. They never seem to get sick. My father-in-law is living with terminal lung cancer and it has been almost four years since he was first diagnosed. He did not do chemotherapy but takes medication, but i believe he's lasted this long as a direct result of his diet and lifestyle. He also meditates daily since he was a young man. Fingers cossed, things keep going well.

I think doing some cardio each day will help you increase your mental and physical perfomance though. It is a great feeling to be able to run and not feel puffed out after two minutes.

2. When you workout, your appetite may increase. I know i feel hungrier when i do. But it probably isn't as much as you think. I know i eat more than i need to. I am a petite woman and i eat more than my husband!

3. You take up whichever you enjoy more. If it's enjoyable, chances are you will keep at it

[Bunterhaperton]

There's nothing wrong in being thin, as long as you eat properly and in good portions. Otherwise, problems will start with your health because of the lack of nutrients in your body which will result in hair loss, loss of teeth, pale skin, brittle nails, feeling tired and weak etc.

[Curious cat]

Oh and nothing wrong with being thin (even for guys) ... All the better to squeeze into dem skinny jeans

[votoshka]

I think there also needs to be some clarity in the difference between reduced caloric intake and being thin.

Some thin people have extremely fast metabolisms, and thus have a higher caloric intake than many who are a normal weight or even over weight. So if you're naturally thin, but still eat a lot, you won't get the benefits of a reduced caloric intake.

But that being said, I think as long as you eat a healthy diet there's no problem with being skinny. You do, however, have to get some physical and weight bearing exercise in.

[hmichaels]

Originally Posted by Luxferre

Apart from that, maybe I don't sleep that well (I'm involuntarely byphasic, since I fall asleep at 1-2 AM and wake up at 7 AM, and then take a nap when I'm back from school). In a few weeks I'm finishing up high school though, and plan to correct my sleep habit.

What exactly do you mean by involuntarily biphasic? If you're lying in bed from 11 PM until 1-2 AM unable to sleep, which forces you to take a nap later in the day due to exhaustion, then that's involuntary. I'm nitpicking since you said health is your #1 priority in life. :-) So you lie awake for hours?

1: If all I care is health, do I really need to work out or can I stay skinny and still be healthy? I'm asking this because I don't consider myself healthy right now. I have anxiety which causes hard time falling asleep, muscle soreness, my back problem, etc. But I aim to fix everything, that's why I'm asking.

As far as I know, having muscle mass doesn't make you more healthy. But exercise DOES definitely make you more healthy, as well as dramatically improve brain function. Check this entertaining talk to the subject. Lifting weights has anti-ageing effects, such as keeping your bones strong and giving your favorable hormone levels. Anyone who is as serious about health as you are will work out regularly.

2: I especially care about longevity. It's been proven that calorie restriction slows down aging. Now, as I understand it, a thin person needs less calories to mantain weight than a "normal", fat, bodybuilder or athletic person. So, isn't being thin (even thinner than normal) actually good for longevity? Of course, you can contract a disease or get hit by a car, but doesn't it extend maximal life span?

Studies have shown a correlation between calorie restriction and longevity yes. You should look up intermittent fasting, since you can get the anti-ageing human growth hormone production (which I believe was said to be the cause of the longevity in calorie restriction - not 100% sure though, you'd better look it up) without being in a perpetual calorie deficit.

3: What exercises should I pursue? I was thinking swimming, yoga, Tai Chi or even a combination of those.

Any of those will work. Don't over-think it. No particular exercise will make you "more healthy" than any other. Just pick one which you can stick to.

As you have probably noticed, you will find a lot of contradictions in the world of health, so don't get too hung up on the details of things or you will never get started. You will quickly discover what makes you feel better.

[Luxferre]

Thanks for all the replies. And as for the "involuntary biphasic" thing: yes, I lie awake for hours. I try to stop thinking and everything, but it's just very difficult for me to relax. It's not only that, I also wake up in the middle of the night, so my sleep quality is realy poor. But I tried everything and nothing seems to work.
Maybe I should try sleeping pills, but I don't think that would be a good solution, since after being off the pills I might end up even worse.

[Brutha]

I'm 6,15 feet, 145 lb. So, as you imagine, I'm pretty skinny.

According to
BMI healthy weight calculator - Health tools - NHS Choices you are within the bounds of having a healthy weight.

My father-in-law is living with terminal lung cancer and it has been almost four years since he was first diagnosed. He did not do chemotherapy but takes medication, but i believe he's lasted this long as a direct result of his diet and lifestyle.

There are cancers with have a slow growth rate.
It's nothing for which you have to be healthy.

[Nathan Bumpsteed]

Hey Luxferre!

It's great to hear from people who previously did not take care of their physical bodies moving to a time in their life where they do!

145lbs at 6'1" you said? That's not bad for an 18 year old male. I was only 150lbs and 6'2" at 18, but I ate like a horse and was very fit...

If all you care about is being in a healthier physical state, I wouldn't concern yourself with body weight.

You will always find contradicting advice on health. 2 articles in the same magazine will even go against each other sometimes!

Just to throw another curve ball into this discussion, I spent a couple years eating a ton and lifting weights. Now I weigh 190-ish.. But I actually "feel" healthier.

I have no statistical data on life longevity from weight training, but I feel amazing on a daily basis because of it.

Hope this helps! Congrats again on your new focus to a healthier you!

Nathan

[Curious cat]

Originally Posted by Brutha

There are cancers with have a slow growth rate.
It's nothing for which you have to be healthy.

I couldn't tell you one way or the other in absolute terms, and my opinion is just my own and isn't a qualified professional one, but for me personally, I am inclined to believe that there are links between diet and lifestyle and cancer risk.

Since his diagnosis, my fil's lung tumor has shrunk by 2mm. Now this could be due to the drugs he is taking, or diet and lifestyle, or maybe a combination of everything. In any case, whatever he is doing is going well for him, and he is just one case, so by no means am i suggesting to anyone reading that his story should be precedent for what they should do in their life, but as something they should look into and research themselves.

[Clint Cora]

My answer would be yes, you still have to work out and even with weights if only for toning. My reason is because adults will start to lose bone mass naturally at certain age levels. Women are affected much earlier than men so at least you have more time in this area. However, men are not immune to bone loss eventually which can lead to osteoporosis and other related bone issues.

Therefore, it is advisable to use strength training to at least buildup your bone mass and then eventually maintain it in your older years. So for health reasons, to answer your questions, it is not exactly healthy to be skinny. You don't need to be a body builder but you should still get some toning and bone mass buildup.

[Brutha]

I couldn't tell you one way or the other in absolute terms, and my opinion is just my own and isn't a qualified professional one, but for me personally, I am inclined to believe that there are links between diet and lifestyle and cancer risk.

The guy has cancer. His diet didn't prevent him from getting cancer.

Since his diagnosis, my fil's lung tumor has shrunk by 2mm.

Okay, shrinking a tumor over a period of 4 year is a success.

Now this could be due to the drugs he is taking, or diet and lifestyle, or maybe a combination of everything.

In your list you forget the cancer. Different cancers have different growth speeds.

[Curious cat]

He was also a non-smoker, so yes it's true that a healthy diet and lifestyle does not prevent a person from developing cancer. Sometimes things happen in spite of our best efforts.

[Medusa locked]

Originally Posted by Luxferre

So, I have three basic questions.

1: If all I care is health, do I really need to work out or can I stay skinny and still be healthy? I'm asking this because I don't consider myself healthy right now. I have anxiety which causes hard time falling asleep, muscle soreness, my back problem, etc. But I aim to fix everything, that's why I'm asking.

2: I especially care about longevity. It's been proven that calorie restriction slows down aging. Now, as I understand it, a thin person needs less calories to mantain weight than a "normal", fat, bodybuilder or athletic person. So, isn't being thin (even thinner than normal) actually good for longevity? Of course, you can contract a disease or get hit by a car, but doesn't it extend maximal life span?

3: What exercises should I pursue? I was thinking swimming, yoga, Tai Chi or even a combination of those.

Well to answer these questions as best I can;

1: IMO, it depends what criteria you hold 'healthy' at. For basic health, I would say good, clean diet(fruit and veg, adequate protein and high fibre) and a healthy heart that comes from a non-sedentary lifestyle(regular walks at least)
If you want 'fit' on the other hand, then that means regular, intense cardio(jogging, cycling, swimming, etc)
And, if you want 'ripped', then weight training, body weight training, isometrics, drop sets, etc

2:I don't know too much about this one, but yes i have also heard about frugal eating having an effect on longevity. IMO, quality of diet factors in. Cut down on processed food, eat fresh.
And, meditation and deep breathing may have an impact on longevity.

3:To answer your 3rd question, I strongly encourage you to look for something that either inspires you or that has movements you already enjoy.
If you do that, you are much more likely to stick with it. I believe exercise shouldn't just be about being healthy, it should be fun.

Swimming, yoga and tai chi are nice choices.

[Altan]

Hi Luxferre,
I will suggest you to do body building and swimming. Do take more proteins in your daily meals.
Body building to gain some muscles and swimming as it makes hips, shoulders, arms and back muscles strong and improves muscle strength and flexibility.

[Razia]

Its problematic dear and you need to have healthy food and exercise as well to get rid of being skinny.

[stanmrak]

I don't want to seem like a pessimist, but the way things are going, I'm not sure I'd want to live another 70 years - or even half that long. (I'm 61 now, so I don't have to worry). I seriously doubt that planet Earth is going to be very livable in 2080 after Monsanto, Merck and their ilk are done trashing it. Maybe everyone will be living in space stations by then, like in the futuristic movie, Wall-E.
Just focus on feeling good right now and doing what you can to protect yourself against environmental hazards for as long as you can.