Mild overweight is good for you
January 14, 2013
BMI 25-30 live longer
A review of 98 studies, including 2.9 million people has concluded that being very obese (Body Mass Index >35) is associated with increased all cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.3;’ 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.4). But a BMI of 30-35, mild obesity, was associated with no increased risk, and a BMI of 25-30, which is classed as overweight, is associated with a lower mortality (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.91-0.96), compared with “normal”. Here‘s the paper in JAMA.
I usually ignore observational studies. But with a personal BMI of 26, I’ll believe this one, and ignore the BMJ health police (click here), who say it’s probably an artefact.
Jim Thornton
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