A normal BMI is 15% likely to die at a young age

knittingwitch
knittingwitch Posts: 231 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was reading this months SHAPE magazine, in there was an articular talking about a studies that was recently done.
I don't remember the pacifistic, but I do remember it said people with a normal BMI where 15% more likely to die suddenly at a younger age then people with a over weight BMI, but people with a BMI of 30%and above where more likely to die at a younger age then people with a normal BMI.

Has any one else read this article or read the research?
What are your thoughts on this?
I have to wonder if this is true then why would you want a normal BMI, and why are we being told that you need to shoot for a normal BMI because that's whats healthy. Seems like if 15% more likely to die with a normal BMI that isn't healthy at all.

Replies

  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    I'm not sure if it's the exact study that you read about, but I remember recently reading an article that noted similar results. The article included the criticism that the study had not controlled for health issues in adults that would cause them to have difficulty maintaining their weight (cancer, etc) as well as would increase their mortality rates. Simply put, the population of people who were "15% more likely to die" included individuals who may have been ill for years and therefore were very thin.

    *Edited to fix typo
  • aliciaje
    aliciaje Posts: 83
    http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/higher-levels-of-obesity-associated-with-increased-risk-of-death-being-overweight-associated-with-lower-risk-of-death/

    The study was released this year in The Journal of the American Medical Association. I don't have a link to the actual article though.
  • RawCarrots
    RawCarrots Posts: 204 Member
    I haven't read the article but sounds to me it's one of those skewed studies along the lines of "People who jog three times a week are 50% more likely to suffer ankle injury compared to those who who jog once a month" :)

    I do have a bit of background in statistics and always take "studies" with a pinch of salt ;)

    ETA: Just saw somebody posted the link above, will read it now
  • _noob_
    _noob_ Posts: 3,306 Member
    study upon study has shown that elderly are more likely to survive a severe illness (such as cancer or heart attacks) if they are in the 25-30 range of the BMI scale.

    Basically adequate muscle mass is beneficial to survival in the elderly. Without it, you lack the ability to physically recover.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    I haven't read the article but sounds to me it's one of those skewed studies along the lines of "People who jog three times a week are 50% more likely to suffer ankle injury compared to those who who jog once a month" :)

    I do have a bit of background in statistics and always take "studies" with a pinch of salt ;)

    ETA: Just saw somebody posted the link above, will read it now

    My favorite one is "80% of car accidents happen within 5 miles of home." Well, duh. Where do you do 80% of your driving? :wink:
  • iAMsmiling
    iAMsmiling Posts: 2,394 Member
    I haven't read the article but sounds to me it's one of those skewed studies along the lines of "People who jog three times a week are 50% more likely to suffer ankle injury compared to those who who jog once a month" :)

    I do have a bit of background in statistics and always take "studies" with a pinch of salt ;)

    ETA: Just saw somebody posted the link above, will read it now

    My favorite one is "80% of car accidents happen within 5 miles of home." Well, duh. Where do you do 80% of your driving? :wink:

    I moved right after I read that.
    No statistic is gonna outsmart me.

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