Study: Fat People Can Be Healthy

[Lunabelle]

(CBS) Can fat people be healthy? A provocative new study shows that obese people who are otherwise healthy live just as long as their slim counterparts.

And that wasn't the only surprising finding. The study also showed otherwise healthy obese people are even less likely than lean people to die of cardiovascular disease.

"Our findings challenge the idea that all obese individuals need to lose weight," study author Dr. Jennifer L. Kuk, assistant professor at York University School of Kinesiology & Health Science, said in a written statement. "Moreover, it's possible that trying - and failing - to lose weight may be more detrimental than simply staying at an elevated body weight and engaging in a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity and a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables."

For the study - published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism - researchers compared the death rate of 6,000 obese Americans over a 16-year span to the death rate of lean individuals. The researcher found that the mortality rate of fat people who had no or only minor obesity-related health problems (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) was no higher than that of lean people.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20092559-10391704.html

[MannyGoldstein]

1. I believe this is actually a consistent finding

Large studies have shown that those who are overweight - but not obese - live as long (possibly even longer) than those at "correct" weight, e.g.: http://docnews.diabetesjournals.org/content/2/6/1.2.full

[rfranklin]

2. I'm celebrating with a double fudge sundae!

I say nuts! More nuts!

[Lunabelle]

3. My whole family is fat and we are very healthy.

My dad says we come from fine peasant stock!

[wishlist]

4. Heavier people take in more nutrients, not just more calories

Many thinner people are actually undernourished and deficient in nutrients that are protective for heart and bone health.

[flamingdem]

8. Do you happen to have more info on this? Very interesting

plus it justifies me eating a bit extra, just to get those nutrients!

[Demeter]

5. Yes, but can they dress fashionably? Attract Worthy mates?

Defeat the Hollywood anorexia?

[eridani]

6. All those "healthy lifestyle" recommendations are good for you even if you never

--lose so much as a pound. All fat people who have improved their health without losing a lot of weight already know this--glad to see that the research is now catching up.

And even if you do have obesity related health problems, it is not weight loss per se that caused improvements.

[Odin2005]

7. That won't stop the haters that think we are sinful gluttons.

[gkhouston]

10. Oh, but that's *such* an advantage.

The fools assume that gluttony is my sin. If they only knew... :evilgrin:

[bemildred]

9. Heavy people are just like thin people, but heavier. nt