AND CONTROVERSY KEEPS ON COMING

Study: Being Slightly Heavy Aids Longevity

Tuesday, January 1, 2013 6:07 PM

inShare2

A new international analysis reveals a surprising pattern: while obesity increases the risk of dying early, being slightly overweight reduces it.

These studies included almost 3 million adults from around the world, yet the results were remarkably consistent, the authors of the analysis noted.

"For people with a medical condition, survival is slightly better for people who are slightly heavier," said study author Katherine Flegal, a senior research scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

Several factors may account for this finding, Flegal added.

"Maybe heavier people present to the doctor earlier, or get screened more often," she said. "Heavier people may be more likely to be treated according to guidelines, or fat itself may be cardioprotective, or someone who is heavier might be more resilient and better able to stand a shock to their system."

The report was published Jan. 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Read more: Study: Being Slightly Heavy Aids Longevity
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.
CONTROVERSY KEEPS ON GOING!
FROM HEALTHNEWS!