Fat people 'live longer than those who are skinny'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Being overweight can extend your life, according to a major new study that contradicts years of warnings about the fatal implications of Britain's expanding waistlines.
It sounds too good to be true, but doctors say that carrying a few extra pounds may actually reduce the risk of premature death.
The new study shows that people who are modestly overweight have a 6 per cent lower rate of premature death from all causes than people of ideal, "healthy" weight, while even those who are mildly obese have no increased risk. Overweight is defined as a body mass index above 25 but below 30. For a man of 5ft 9ins that is between 12 stone 4lbs and 14 stone 6lbs, or for a woman of 5 ft 6 ins it is between 11 stone 3 lbs and 13 stone 4 lbs. Ideal, healthy weight is defined as a BMI between 18.5 and 25.
Mild obesity (those with a BMI between 30 and 34.9) brings a 5 per cent lower premature death rate, according to the study. Although this was not significant, it suggests there is no increased risk of premature death attached to that weight range.
To those contemplating a new year diet, the news contradicts the received wisdom that being fat reduces life expectancy. It is the second time that researchers led by Katherine Flegal, a distinguished epidemiologist from the National Centre for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Maryland, US, have studied the link between obesity and mortality.
In 2007 the same group caused consternation among public health professionals when they published the results of a similar analysis that also showed being fat does not shorten life.
Tam Fry, spokesman for the UK National Obesity Forum, said: "Katherine Flegal is an extremely good researcher and I would respect her. But I am flabbergasted. The sum total of medical expert opinion cannot have got it so wrong. The consequences of people taking this research and deciding let's eat and be merry will be catastrophic."
One possible explanation for the findings is that that fat may protect the heart. Carrying extra pounds may also help individuals withstand periods of illness when they lose appetite.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments