Obesity could help you live longer?

0somuchbetter0 · September 2012

I just came across this interesting article. Not saying I'm going to stop trying to lose weight and get in shape, but it does offer an interesting perspective. I watched my already thin father waste away to about 85lbs (cancer), so this definitely jumped out at me.

"In study after study, overweight and moderately obese patients with certain chronic diseases often live longer and fare better than normal-weight patients with the same ailments. The accumulation of evidence is inspiring some experts to re-examine long-held assumptions about the association between body fat and disease."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/health/research/more-data-suggests-fitness-matters-more-than-weight.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0moc.semityn.www

taylor5877 · September 2012

What diseases are they talking about?

Yes, having more muscle mass when you get sick is often a lifesaver for the elderly. That's what I would take home.

lour441 · September 2012

I will currently survive a famine better then most.

jkestens63 · September 2012

I will currently survive a famine better then most.

^ This^

And after I'm kaput a family of 5 could probably survive on my carcass for a month.

HelloDan · September 2012

Would be interesting to see the bigger picture though.

Over simplified example: if 40% of normal people get cancer, but have a 50% mortality rate if they get it, and 90% of obese people get cancer, but have a 40% mortality rate if they get it,.

Which group would you rather be in?

magj0y · September 2012

yes and many obese people tend to have problems with their knees, diabetes, high blood pressure and other such fun things that limit your life style. My father in law is grossly obese. He had to have knee surgery and is insulin dependent which means he needs to plan his meals and can't be spontaneous because he has to have his insulin 1/2 hour before he eats.
I'll take healthy!

taylor5877 · September 2012

after reading the article (and knowing some background) those who are physically active are the most likely to survive reguardless of weight. I would also agree that

I think the fact that the slightly overweight/obese patients show higher survival rates is just a natural progression of an active person gaining weight over the years. In the slightly overweight/obese it could just be a result of maintaining muscle mass.

I know it's anecdotal but in the elderly in my family who have had a chronic disease it was when they were unable to get up and stay active that they passed.

neverstray · September 2012

There was another few thousand studies that show that thinner people generally live a longer and healthier life.

This is a very narrow study for a specified group of people with some number of unspecified diseases. I wouldn't put much into. Anyone can publish a study these days it seems. Using statistics, if you're smart, you could easily publish both sides of it to different audiences.

dodihere · September 2012

There is more body for the disease to consume so it takes longer to destroy?

SoDamnHungry · September 2012

I read somewhere that extra fat in your butt and thighs helps you live longer because it keeps bad toxins in your butt and away from your heart. Also, overweight diabetics live longer than thin diabetics.