How many times have we heard lately that obesity has been shown to be a significant contributor to disease and early death? Now, flying in the face of that knowledge are the results of a new study out of Australia that claims a little extra meat on the bones might just mean a longer life.
The study, which involved 9,200 Australian men and women aged 70 to 75, ran for 10 years beginning in 1996. Researchers at the University of Western Australia assessed participants' health and lifestyle factors during this period of time. By the end, they had made an unusual discovery: Participants whose BMI (body mass index, calculated by dividing body weight by the square of height) was in the "overweight" category were 13 percent less likely to die during the ten years of the study than those whose BMIs landed them in the "normal weight" category. The protective benefit of being heavy seems to be limited to just a few extra pounds, however; participants whose BMIs put them in the "obese" category did not enjoy the same longevity as those who were merely overweight.
Scientists aren't sure why an extra layer of padding seems to offer protection against death once people reach a certain age, but it calls into question the wisdom of encouraging older people who are "overweight" by current World Health Organization BMI standards to shed excess poundage. It seems that retaining a little extra fat becomes a good thing once you hit old age. Doctors note that being obese in old age is still a health hazard, as is being underweight, and younger adults are still advised to lose even small amounts of excess weight in order to achieve their best health. Still, for those seniors who enjoy a pat of butter on their morning toast and would never turn down a piece of freshly baked piece of pie, the news should make them rest a little easier.
The American Geriatrics Society www.americangeriatrics.org
