Interesting article about weight and health

[firecat]

People with BMIs in the "overweight" and in some cases "obese" ranges are more likely to survive diabetes, kidney failure, and heart disease than people who are "normal weight." A New York Times article discusses this: In ‘Obesity Paradox,’ Thinner May Mean Sicker

Quote: "Perhaps, some experts say, we are not asking the right question in the first place. Maybe we are so used to framing health issues in terms of obesity that we are overlooking other potential causes of disease."

The article doesn't end with the usual comment such as "But don't use this as an excuse to eat a dozen donuts!"

I'm looking forward to the day when they stop calling it a "paradox" that some health conditions are less debilitating to people who weigh more.

Comments

[elainegrey]

thanks for posting, it was an interesting read -- although your summary hit the high points!

[necturus]

There is so much bullshit in the media right not about a so-called "epidemic" of obesity, along with alarmist predictions that by 2030 more than 50% of the population of Maine will be obese.

This kind of nonsense is one of the reasons I no longer believe in freedom of the press.

[firecat]

Yeah, it seems they use whatever freedom they have to conform to mainstream opinion.

[lilacsigil]

I don't know about diabetes and heart disease, but the fact that fat people live considerably longer with kidney disease - and that the gap is even more pronounced for people on dialysis - is well-studied and well-known.

[firecat]

Not particularly well reported in the mainstream news though.

[musyc]

I'm looking forward to the day when they stop calling it a "paradox" that some health conditions are less debilitating to people who weigh more.

This, yes. And to the day when people stop being shocked that thin people can indeed *gasp!Horror!* suffer from debilitating health conditions directly related to their weight.

[firecat]

"B-b-but you mean, being thin doesn't make me immortal? No fair!"

[sauscony]

I get all kinds of crap about my weight and triglycerides from my primary care physician, but my gastro doctors have never once tried to get me to lose weight. The only time they were worried about my weight was when I lost 12 pounds in less than a month because of a combination of a Crohn's flare and a bad reaction to some medication I was taking. They think if I have a little extra weight, I'll be better off if I have any more flares.

[firecat]

I'm glad you have sensible gastro docs!

A few years ago I lost weight as a result of stomach ulcers, which also caused anemia. I didn't exactly feel healthier.

[graymalkin13.livejournal.com]

"Maybe we are so used to framing health issues in terms of obesity that we are overlooking other potential causes of disease."

YA THINK??

I'm looking forward to the day when they stop calling it a "paradox" that some health conditions are less debilitating to people who weigh more.

Truly. If that day comes, it will reflect an attitude shift so profound that our culture might implode.

[firecat]

I can't wait for the implosion.

[graymalkin13.livejournal.com]

Also...

Obesity is the primary risk factor for Type 2 diabetes

They got that backwards.

[firecat]

Yeah, at least they said risk factor and not cause, but my understanding is that the cause usually goes the other way.

[graymalkin13.livejournal.com]

Aye, and having diabetes could be a "risk factor" for gaining weight -- because of metabolism, or meds, or other factors I can't dream up right now.

[firecat]

*looking at my 40 pounds that I acquired while I was taking Avandia*

Definitely.

[sabotabby]

"Perhaps, some experts say, we are not asking the right question in the first place. Maybe we are so used to framing health issues in terms of obesity that we are overlooking other potential causes of disease.

In other news, the preferred defecation regions of ursine are rumoured to be heavily forested locations.

[firecat]

Indeed.