A few extra pounds may bring extra years

Very interesting to read, thanks for posting. It's tough to know what to believe these days because researchers keep coming up with conflicting reports or contradict each other. I thought the world's oldest female or those that live the longest tend to be very lean and generally eat very little? I remember reading about that a while ago. Maybe the quality of one's diet and life is more important than the numbers on the scale? That's my $ .02

Odd. Interesting to read though. I remember the oldest female as well. There was something in general she said she ate every day, I do not remember what it was though.

Another example of how BMI is a lousy indicator for anything other than the most basic measures.

I read and reread the article. I was trying to understand something. That being if it was possible that they had picked up on the fact that ill people lose a lot of weight in the last weeks and months of their lives. I think it could give a false result.

Interesting article....BMI takes very little into consideration. Just height and weight....not muscle mass or where you carry your weight, or bone density for that matter. There has to be a better way to calculate obesity.

There was a similar American study that came out a few years ago that basically said the same thing. It defined slightly overweight as +/- 20lbs. It said the slightly overweight recover faster from cancer and pneumonia. Sorry I don't have a link.

Maybe coz they have a little more reserve?

Here is a link to a similar study; discussed in depth by one of my favorite nurse bloggers.

Enjoy!

I've always thought somewhat overweight people have a good chance of living just as long as thinner or normal weight people, taking into account the patients I've cared for and my own health and weight.

My BMI is currently 22, but have been smack bang in the 'overweight' BMI category previously. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I lost weight but it's debatable whether its going to help my long term health, given when I was overweight I was fairly fit and healthy - good cholesterol, LFTs, BP, and pulse rate. I used to have a dodgy back when I was overweight - aching and stiff at times and guess what? I still do! Damn it. So that didn't help me particularly, despite exercising regularly. However I will concede that being in a healthy weight range will help prevent musculoskeletal injury to an extent.

I've looked after just as many thin and normal weight patients as overweight people over ten years or so of bedside nursing so clearly most people get sick eventually. I'm not sure I believe this research particularly (I tend to take most research with a large grain of salt) but I will say when comparing thin, normal weight and slightly overweight people, the risk of disease and premature death seems fairly arbitrary in terms of weight. I think it's more important to look at the person's stress levels, coping mechanisms, lifestyle and family history.

Just my