Obesity is one of the hottest topics in the country these days. Not only are researchers and public health officials concerned, but the government and general public are taking notice as well. With lawsuits pending and various diseases looming, everyone is interested in the relationship between obesity and health. And, since everyone is interested, studies on diet and exercise recommendations are always in the news. There are various conclusions, however, that make the news all the more interesting.

More than half of our nation is considered sedentary. Among overweight individuals, the percentages of sedentary individuals are higher. To be both fit and fat is not common, but it is possible in theory. Some researchers claim that overweight individuals can still be healthy. In fact, the claim is that some obese people may be healthier than some of their thin friends.

"You can be fit and fat," says Dr. Jody Wilkinson, a researcher at the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research. "And it's better than being skinny and sedentary."

Researchers at the Cooper Institute have criticized other research, insisting that the fitness of the individual is often excluded from studies. In a study by the institute of more than 25,000 men, overweight men weren't necessarily at high risk for heart disease if they were fit.

Exercising four or five days a week can combat the effects of moderate obesity. In other words, exercise extends lives, regardless of the individual's weight. Thus, being 20 to 40 pounds overweight may be less risky to one's health than being inactive.

The fit-and-fat idea is encouraging to many people. By persuading individuals to exercise and eat healthier, realistic goals are set for people who have failed at dieting in the past -- dieting that may have been dangerous to their health.

The other side of the issue argues that no matter how fit someone is, if they are overweight, they increase their risk for diseases and premature death. Carrying extra weight, especially in the abdominal region, has long been associated with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. While fitness is good for everyone, carrying around extra weight is not.

The government seems to think that to be fit, one cannot be fat. The national guidelines for obesity were changed in 1998 to include an additional 29 million Americans, classifying these individuals as overweight and unhealthy. Putting someone into a category like this can cause him or her to lose hope.

Another source of influence is the media. The media send messages that thinness equals healthiness -- that the thinner people are, the healthier they must be. Messages like these enforce the idea that one cannot be fit and fat.

Should people be more concerned with dieting those pounds off at any cost? Or should they exercise a little more? With support for both sides, it is easy to get confused when it comes to diet and exercise recommendations.

So what is the message to take home? What should we do? Exercise. Exercise when you can. Exercise to feel better. Exercise to look better. But most importantly, exercise for your health -- your health now and your health later.

Many people have trouble controlling their weight. Controlling how much you exercise, though, is up to you. Exercise is a behavior that can be modified and can lead to improved health. Losing excess weight will also help to ward off chronic diseases, but even if you don't shed those extra pounds for whatever reason, your body will still thank you for the exercise.