Now Doctors Say It's Good to be Overweight

[one...two...tree 2,762]

(I personally think that it boils down to lifestyle...if you're diet is reasonably healthy and you exercise, you'll live longer even if you have a few extra pounds)

By David Usborne, The Independent UK.

A startling new study by medical researchers in the United States has caused consternation among public health professionals by suggesting that, contrary to conventional wisdom, being overweight might actually be beneficial for health.

The study, published yesterday in the respected Journal of the American Medical Association, runs counter to almost all other advice to consumers by saying that carrying a little extra flab -- though not too much -- might help people to live longer.

Struggling dieters, used to being told that staying thin is the best prescription for longevity, are likely to be confused this morning if not heartily relieved. While being a bit overweight may indeed increase your chances of dying from diabetes and kidney disease -- conditions that are often linked with one another -- the same is not true for a host of other ailments including cancer and heart disease, the report suggests.

In fact, scanning the whole gamut of diseases that could curtail your life, being over weight is, on balance, a good thing. The bottom line, the scientists say, is that modestly overweight people demonstrate a lower death rate than their peers who are underweight, obese or -- most surprisingly -- normal weight.

The findings will be hard to dismiss. They are the result of analysis of decades of data by federal researchers at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. This is not a study from a fringe group of scientists or sponsored by a fast-food chain.

Being overweight, the report asserts in its conclusions, "was associated with significantly decreased all-cause mortality overall".

"The take-home message is that the relationship between fat and mortality is more complicated than we tend to think," said Katherine Flegal, the lead researcher. "It's not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all situation where excess weight just increases your mortality risk for any and all causes of death."

That the CDC has even published the report and thus threatened to muffle years of propaganda as to the health benefits of staying slender has enraged some medical experts.

"It's just rubbish," fumed Walter Willett, the professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. "It's just ludicrous to say there is no increased risk of mortality from being overweight."

Not that the CDC results are an invitation to throw caution to the winds and take cream with everything. The scientists are careful to stress that the benefits they are describing are limited to those people who are merely overweight -- which generally means being no more than 30 pounds heavier than is recommended for your height -- and certainly do not carry over to those who fall into the category of obese.

Obesity has been declared one of the main threats to health in the US, including among children. Those considered obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, continue to run a higher risk of death, the study says, from a variety of ailments, including numerous cancers and heart disease. It said that being underweight increases the risk of ailments not including heart disease or cancer.

http://alternet.org/healthwellness/67692/

Edited November 15, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[Nessa 23]

(I personally think that it boils down to lifestyle...if you're diet is reasonably healthy and you exercise, you'll live longer even if you have a few extra pounds)

I have to agree with that.

[Jasman0717 9]

carrying a little extra flab -- though not too much -- might help people to live longer.

Unfortunately for me I am carrying a bit more than "a little extra flab"

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

carrying a little extra flab -- though not too much -- might help people to live longer.

Unfortunately for me I am carrying a bit more than "a little extra flab"

more golf doctor's orders

[Nagishkaw 510]

Those Doctors are full of themselves. I agree with Steven. Oh, and one other thing...stay away from pills !

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Hmm 30 lbs overweight is good? I can stop watching what I eat now?

Edited November 15, 2007 by VJ Troll

[JODO 2]

I think I remember reading something like this awhile back. Well, it seems like "how to be healthy" changes daily.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

I think I remember reading something like this awhile back. Well, it seems like "how to be healthy" changes daily.

i'm still waiting for the story that smoking, consuming large amounts of diet dr pepper and caffiene is good for you

[Nagishkaw 510]

I think I remember reading something like this awhile back. Well, it seems like "how to be healthy" changes daily.

i'm still waiting for the story that smoking, consuming large amounts of diet dr pepper and caffiene is good for you

You forgot the pizza and Whataburger.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

I think I remember reading something like this awhile back. Well, it seems like "how to be healthy" changes daily.

i'm still waiting for the story that smoking, consuming large amounts of diet dr pepper and caffiene is good for you

You forgot the pizza and Whataburger.

oh yeah gotta have those!

Edited November 15, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[polarbear 0]

I think I remember reading something like this awhile back. Well, it seems like "how to be healthy" changes daily.

i'm still waiting for the story that smoking, consuming large amounts of diet dr pepper and caffiene is good for you

You forgot the pizza and Whataburger.

oh yeah gotta have those!

Couldn't live without that big fresh cookie at work everyday I firmly believe a little dessert everyday is good for you (btw: just at the borderline level so maby I'm a little biase)

[Sinergy 3]

I think I remember reading something like this awhile back. Well, it seems like "how to be healthy" changes daily.

i'm still waiting for the story that smoking, consuming large amounts of diet dr pepper and caffiene is good for you

You forgot the pizza and Whataburger.

mmmmmmm whataburger *drooling*

[almaty 19]

Hmm 30 lbs overweight is good? I can stop watching what I eat now?

lol..like you ever did that brother arijit..past the nachos and cheese over here....

[Jasman0717 9]

carrying a little extra flab -- though not too much -- might help people to live longer.

Unfortunately for me I am carrying a bit more than "a little extra flab"

more golf doctor's orders

Its all Claudeth's fault, she has to stop buying pizzas and force feeding me