Tuesday, April 26, 2005
BMI redux
Here’s another article about the findings of that now-infamous CDC analysis that said, shockingly enough, that being fat won’t kill you. Excerpt:
Lower deaths (lives saved) associated with being “overweight” (BMI 25-30) = 86,094
Yes, you’re reading that right. Being overweight is actually associated with reduced mortality rates. Being well nourished is healthful. In fact, looking at the data on nonsmokers, ages 29-59, those who are “overweight” or “obese” (BMI 30-35) have 66 to 77% of the mortality risk of government-approved “normal” bodies (BMI 18.5-25). For an average 5’4” woman, that means weighing 145 to 205 pounds is the least risky; for someone 5’11”, the lowest risks are at 172 to 247 pounds.
And yes, I am harping on this. While I tend to agree with Little Miss Attila that it certainly doesn’t hurt your odds to take a walk now and again, it is so freaking nice to have someone confirm the entirely obvious fact that one doesn’t have to be a marathon runner to live to a reasonably old age. I don’t plan to stop enjoying it for a while yet.