healthy BMI is best

CarvedTones

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/overweight-obesity-mortality-risk/

I posted this in another thread but it was as it was trailing off. I keep seeing the older, smaller Canadian study referenced to say that overweight is better. the more recent much much larger study says otherwise. I think a big flaw in the Canadian study was using the whole range for healthy. The people at the low end of healthy probably dragged down the average. The study I referenced above uses smaller ranges to zero in on what is optimum.

[excerpt]
For the new study, consortium researchers looked at data from more than 10.6 million participants from 239 large studies, conducted between 1970 and 2015, in 32 countries. A combined 1.6 million deaths were recorded across these studies, in which participants were followed for an average of 14 years. For the primary analyses, to address potential biases caused by smoking and preexisting diseases, the researchers excluded participants who were current or former smokers, those who had chronic diseases at the beginning of the study, and any who died in the first five years of follow-up, so that the group they analyzed included 4 million adults. They looked at participants’ body mass index (BMI)—an indicator of body fat calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m2).

The results showed that participants with BMI of 22.5-<25 kg/m2 (considered a healthy weight range) had the lowest mortality risk during the time they were followed. The risk of mortality increased significantly throughout the overweight range: a BMI of 25-<27.5 kg/m2 was associated with a 7% higher risk of mortality; a BMI of 27.5-<30 kg/m2 was associated with a 20% higher risk; a BMI of 30.0-<35.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 45% higher risk; a BMI of 35.0-<40.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 94% higher risk; and a BMI of 40.0-<60.0 kg/m2 was associated with a nearly three-fold risk. Every 5 units higher BMI above 25 kg/m2 was associated with about 31% higher risk of premature death. Participants who were underweight also had a higher mortality risk.

pinggolfer96

Didn’t read this because usually anything regarding BMI is skewed

janejellyroll

pinggolfer96 wrote: »

Didn’t read this because usually anything regarding BMI is skewed

It's data from 239 studies including 10.6 million people. How do you think it is skewed? How much larger would it have to be in order for you to consider reading it?

PAV8888

pinggolfer96 wrote: »

Didn’t read this because usually anything regarding BMI is skewed

Oh six pack abs person with a BMI of 30 obviously you are aware that you're an outlier and that this doesn't apply to you. It is amazing, though, how many people think that it could not possibly apply to them... yet they don't have any visible abs!

Wendyanneroberts

Interesting data and from a personal level I have worked hard to lower my weight & therefore bmi. It has been a slow but steady progress, wanting to do what I can to improve my overall health. I hit my 2nd "goal weight" this week, having lowered it after reaching the first. But looking at these statistics it helps to see just how far I have come.

From a bmi of 33.1 and a 45% higher risk of mortality
Down to a bmi of 24.4 and the lowest mortality risk

Working at maintaince now!

PAV8888

I find it interesting because there were a number of studies they included 25 to 27.5 in the good range, but which also included former smokers

sgt1372

We like it when the data is, "good" and don't when it's not.

I was in denial when I weighed 196, my BMI was 29, I wore size 40 pants and I was borderline (no, actually) obese.

Like it a lot more now that I weigh 154 (based, on the trend) and my BMI is 23.1. Also helps that I now have 8 3% BF and visible abs and lots of other muscular definition.

Big diff and I didn't need the BMI scale to help me discern the difference