I think we are now up to six studies that show those who have overweight BMI live the longest. The latest study of German people show those with overweight BMI live the longest and obesity becomes less of an issue as you get older.
This goes back to my post from July about the flawed concept behind BMI. We really do categorize people in a very narrow range of what is considered healthy without paying attention to history, genetics, or physical characteristics. Considering that a study just came out that suggests kids born today can live to be 100, it doesn't seem like obesity is putting a dent in life expectancies. Of course if we include those children in the third world, the ones that die of actually preventable diseases, that life expectancy drops.
Also a recent article about a 2008 study indicates that fat people can be healthy. I'm perfectly willing to accept gaining weight as a symptom (not a cause) of a disease, just as losing weight can also be one. What I don't agree with is the arbitrary decision that being at the magical BMI number will make you healthy or that even losing weight will make you healthy.
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