The New York Times > Health > Some Extra Heft May Be Helpful, New Study Says
Will continue to work on weight loss (down some 25-30lbs so far) but looks like my goal is reasonable.
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People who are overweight but not obese have a lower risk of death than those of normal weight, federal researchers are reporting today.
The researchers - statisticians and epidemiologists from the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - also found that increased risk of death from obesity was seen for the most part in the extremely obese, a group constituting only 8 percent of Americans.
And being very thin, even though the thinness was longstanding and unlikely to stem from disease, caused a slight increase in the risk of death, the researchers said.
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The study has caused some controversy, but:
The study did not explain why overweight appeared best as far as mortality was concerned. But Dr. Williamson said the reason might be that most people die when they are over 70. Having a bit of extra fat in old age appears to be protective, he said, giving rise to more muscle and more bone.
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