Overweight people live longer

Maybe, but at least I can see my unit.

The fact of the matter is that our definition of "overweight" is ridiculously low for any man who has an appreciable amount of muscle mass. My guess is that most who fall in the "overweight" category are either fit enough to have that muscle mass or live disciplined enough lifestyles as far as eating habits are concerned. If they didn't fall into either of those two categories, then they would have self-selected themselves out of "overweight" and into the "obese" category.

Also, and this is just a guess, I would guess that men in the "overweight" category are probably more sociable and likely to be married on average than the "underweight" or "average" BMI males.

I'll say this: having been in the "underweight," "normal," and "overweight" categories myself, I am now much happier in the "overweight" category--lifting weights and whatnot--than I ever was in the either of the other two categories.

Troll or no, I feel like I should point out how crappy BMI is at measuring anything. Muscular people come out as overweight. And since this study is looking at mortality trends based on that designation, I don't buy it.

The article says:

those whose B.M.I. ranked them as overweight had less risk of dying than people of normal weight.

Don't we all have the same risk of dying? It's pretty much a sure thing for all of us, right?

I can believe that for older people its best to have some fat reserves to provide strength in case an illness is encountered that robs you of your appetite. I wouldn't want to be young and fat, though. I'd rather take the risks that go with being thin and lead an active life.

More evidence money is being wasted on useless studies

The problem with this study is they're comparing fatties that made past 65. Most of them are dead before that of heart disease and diabetes. But the fatties who somehow get past 65, they're working on a different mechanism. With those fatties, there is something else going on or maybe they're deemed genetically stronger than everyone else.

I'm 43 and I already know several people of from social circle that died of heart heart attack and diabetes before age 50. Every single one of them were fatties.

They weren't just comparing people over 65. Also, your anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much given the small sample size.

I like a little meat on a guy. His cuddle ability increases.

"Study suggests" means it might be full of crap.

And this is true: the world is about to descend into civil war, and when that happens, all the fat people will be killed off first. Big, fat, slow targets. Especially when the cannibalism starts. The collapse of civilization will destroy the food supply for 75 percent of people and there will be no choice but to eat each other.

lol. You're so funny :D

I'll still take my 155 lbs over 255 lbs any day. The fact that fat people could live longer simply means they'll smell gross longer and look like a slob longer. I fail to see any benefit to that.

Not very scientific, but as a cop of 15 years I've seen a lot of dead bodies.

Invariably, 'old' people, say 80 plus, that die of natural causes are small and wiry. These types are also more likely to die in their own home, rather than a nursing home.

Conversely, I've seen many fatties having had a massive heart attack in their 40's and 50's, often dying in the street.

Just my observations, fwiw.

poo poo wrote:

I'm 43 and I already know several people of from social circle that died of heart heart attack and diabetes before age 50. Every single one of them were fatties.

I'm 53 and yes, you're right.

I guess you'd really have to look into the study and the definition of overweight before going to McDonalds every day.

The BMI chart is useless. When I was a teen, my mom would take me in for my yearly physical and the pediatrician would always tell her I was approaching the overweight category on the BMI chart. I was a state champion in the 2 mile as a Junior and started for our varsity HS soccer team as sophomore. I was running over 60 miles a week and in the gym lifting 3 days a week once I hit 16.

He would always say, "well, he looks very healthy and fit, but he is high in the BMI range for his height, so you should probably watch his calorie intake." I was like 5'10 and 145.

Looking back at pictures, I was cut out of stone. 6pack and everything. I am still fit, but I always think back on that and wonder what that doctor told the other kids he saw. I don't think many other patients would have had my level of fitness.

Anyway, this thread made me think about that.

5'10", 145 lbs is exactly my size and equates to a BMI of 20.8 ((145*703)/49000=20.8). This is NOT EVEN CLOSE to being "high in the BMI range". The generally accepted range for a "normal BMI" is 18.5-24.9. You were actually on the low end. I agree that BMI is pretty useless. However, your story only illustrates the shortcomings of your doctor and not the BMI chart.

I was thinking that sounded way off and was about to plug it into a BMI calculator.