Two studies alluded to in my post “Does Being Overweight Harm Your Health” have been linked on our Obesity research page.

The surprising results of these two studies, and others like them, is that being in the overweight category when measured by BMI is not harmful. You have the same statistical chance of living to the same age as normal weight people.

Making Sense of the Studies
What about studies that show cancer deaths are reduced for people in a certain weight class, or that deaths from diabetes are higher for people who are overweight? What the two studies linked show is that overall, in the general population, people’s lives average out longer if they are normal or overweight, but are much shorter if underweight or obese.

But you are not an average. So you have to look at your individual risk factors. In my case, I have high risk for diabetes because of my “syndrome X” or “metabolic syndrome” risk factors. My diet is designed to reduce those risk factors and so far, I’ve made good progress. If the end result is that I’m not diabetic but still a bit overweight, I’ll fret that my profile isn’t what it was when I was 17, but I’ll live as long as my thin brother. And I’ll enjoy life.

I could go beyond addressing my individual need, and work for a vanity outcome: thin as a Hollywood star. But I wouldn’t enjoy my life nearly as much. And I would die younger, according to the averages. Its small consolation that a bunch of overweight people will cry at my funeral.

Healthy has to be the goal, and healthy might mean different things to someone with different family histories or other risk factors. Weight alone is not the standard.

One Response to “Obesity: Can you be too thin?”

1. Low Carb Age » BMI and the “Obesity Epidemic” says:

   November 24, 2009 at 11:35 am

   [...] also noted our belief that individuals have to assess their own health needs and identify their individual risk factors , rather than focusing on a “society wide goal”. If your risk factors lean more towards [...]