Can you be fit and fat?

Fitness expert Katie Gormley wades into the fit versus fat debate

Gossip magazines would have us believe that in order to be fit you must be thin (not to mention have a dashingly good-looking partner and the latest gym gear). However, the thin and fit debate does throw up some tricky questions.

What does fitness mean?

My favourite definition of fitness is that of physiotherapist Christopher Norris. He says: 'It's all about the S factors: Stamina, Suppleness, Strength, Speed, Skill, Specify (what you need to be fit for) and Spirit.'

The focus is on having the ability to carry out functions well. The reason I like this definition so much is that it relates to fitness in more life-enhancing terms rather than simply pointing to firm muscles and low body fat. Nothing in it relates directly to body size.

What do we mean by fat?

According to the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculations, the whole of the English national rugby team is obese. Joining them in this category are other obese figures such as Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe. But before you start wishing that your boyfriend was obese I need to clarify something: BMI is calculated using only weight and height. It is a useful tool but it does not provide the whole picture.

Body fat percentage or composition provides a very useful indication. Official guidelines specify that less that 18 per cent for men and less than 23 per cent for women are ideals. Once men are pushing over 35 per cent and women 40 per cent they are creeping into the danger zone of obesity. I think Brad's body fat is probably about 7 per cent, so no danger for him.