The “Fairly Healthy” Myth: Why “Good Enough” Isn’t Serving Your Body

By: Marcy Schoenborn

So many people say, “I’m fairly healthy.” Maybe the labs come back “normal,” maybe the doctor isn’t sounding alarms, and maybe your clothes still fit—mostly. But underneath the surface, your body may already be waving red flags. The truth is, being “fairly healthy” is a myth. Our bodies are designed to operate like finely tuned, well-oiled machines. When they don’t, we notice it—not always with a diagnosis, but in the little ways: fatigue, stiff joints, brain fog, digestive issues, or stubborn weight gain.

When the Body Isn’t Running Smoothly

Think of your body like a car engine. When the oil is clean, the fuel efficient, and all the parts aligned, it hums along with ease. But when something is “off”—old oil, low tire pressure, clogged filters—the car still runs, but less smoothly. It may burn more fuel, feel sluggish, or wear down faster. That’s exactly what happens when we coast in “fairly healthy” mode. We’re not broken, but we’re not thriving either.

Subtle imbalances in hormones, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or extra weight are like those unseen engine issues. Over time, they create wear and tear that shows up as bigger problems.

The Truth About “Just 20 Pounds” of Extra Body Fat

One of the most common myths is that “a little extra weight” is harmless. But carrying just 20 pounds of extra body fat places significant stress on your system:

• On the joints: Every pound of extra body weight adds about 4 pounds of pressure on the knees. Twenty pounds equals an extra 80 pounds of force with every step. Over time, this accelerates cartilage wear, increasing the risk of arthritis and chronic pain.

• On the heart and metabolism: Extra fat isn’t just “stored energy”—it’s metabolically active tissue. Fat cells release inflammatory chemicals that raise the risk for insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and heart disease—even in people who otherwise “feel fine.”

• On energy levels: The more extra fat the body carries, the harder it has to work to move, breathe, and regulate temperature. That translates into fatigue, poor sleep, and sluggish recovery after activity.

• On hormones: Body fat produces estrogen and other hormones. Even 20 extra pounds can throw off hormonal balance, affecting mood, fertility, and metabolism.

Why “Fairly Healthy” Is a Slippery Slope

The body is incredibly forgiving—but only for so long. Those 20 extra pounds, the creeping inflammation, or the nagging fatigue aren’t random. They’re early signals that the “machine” isn’t running smoothly. Ignoring them because “everything’s pretty good” is like ignoring the check-engine light on your dashboard. Eventually, small imbalances add up to big breakdowns.

The Bottom Line

“Fairly healthy” isn’t the goal. You deserve to feel sharp, energized, and strong—not just “fine.” Taking steps toward optimal health—nutrient-dense food, daily movement, quality sleep, and managing stress—keeps your body humming like the well-oiled machine it was designed to be.

Your body doesn’t want “fair.” It wants thriving.

Messier SP, Gutekunst DJ, Davis C, DeVita P. Weight loss reduces knee-joint loads in overweight and obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Jul;52(7):2026-32. doi:10.1002/art.21139.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The Impact of Obesity on Bone and Joint Health. Rosemont, IL. Available from: https://www.aaos.org/contentassets/1cd7f41417ec4dd4b5c4c48532183b96/1184-the-impact-of-obesity-on-bone-and-joint-health1.pdf 

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. Role of Body Weight in Osteoarthritis. Available from: https://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/patient-corner/disease-management/role-of-body-weight-in-osteoarthritis/ 

Arthritis Foundation. Study Confirms Losing Weight May Save Knees. University of California San Francisco. Available from: https://www.arthritis.org/news/study-confirms-losing-weight-may-save-knees 

Kawai T, Autieri MV, Scalia R. Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Metabolic Dysfunction in Obesity. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2021 Aug 1;321(2):C375-C391. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00379.2020.

Wu H, Ballantyne CM. Metabolic Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Obesity. Circ Res. 2020 May 8;126(11):1549-1565. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.315896.

Kolb R, Sutterwala FS, Zhang W. Obese visceral fat tissue inflammation: from protective to detrimental? BMC Med. 2022 Jul 4;20(1):265. doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02672-y.

Chait A, den Hartigh LJ. Adipose Tissue Distribution, Inflammation and Its Metabolic Consequences, Including Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2020 Feb 25;7:22. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2020.00022.