The 'obesity paradox' ? overweight means better health? | Dr Tim's ...

The term ?Obesity Paradox? has become widely used to describe a phenomenon which has taken some health professionals by surprise and raised many questions.

?The ?paradox? is that while many studies have shown that being overweight increases health risk, (see this link and this link); other research suggest that being overweight is actually protective once the the risk has turned into a reality. It gives us much to ponder on.

?Examples:
?1. A study of 250,000 patients with coronary artery disease, published in The Lancet in 2006, showed that patients in the overweight or mildly obese BMI range had lower mortality rates than those in the healthy range.

?2. A type 2 diabetes study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association earlier this year concluded ?Adults who were normal weight at the time of incident diabetes had higher mortality than adults who are overweight or obese?.?

3. ?The intriguing metabolically healthy but obese phenotype ?? published ?in the European Heart Journal found that a sub-group comprising 43% of the overweight participants in the study were no more at risk from cardiovascular disease than ?normal-fat? participants (they were using fat level measurements in preference to BMI).

Storm Woolley, Aspire for Life activity coach

These results and others like them raise a host of questions.?Does being overweight really help resist the disease? If obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease, does that mean someone not overweight who develops either of these conditions has fallen prey to more aggressive risk factors? Do overweight patients develop symptoms at an earlier stage of development of a disease, so they survive longer ? We simply don?t know.?

The reason for the results in the third study was plain. ?The ?overweight? group who had the same mortality rate as normal weight people were all fit when assessed on a treadmill. The researchers found their metabolic health status was identical to the normal weight group. Labeling them as overweight is really a misnomer.?

?A really interesting ?obesity paradox? result comes from a study of 1400 people with diabetes published by the American Diabetic Association. Researchers there found that people who reported trying to lose weight had a 23% lower mortality rate than those who never tried, whether or not they succeeded with weight loss! Perhaps that is evidence that being mindful of your diet delivers health benefits even when weight loss does not eventuate. ?

In reality, there is no paradox, simply a normal complicated life situation. Science clearly does support the view that obesity increases the risk of developing a number of unpleasant diseases, especially type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and diet linked cancers. However any ?overweight ?individual who has a nutritionally balanced diet and is fit may be no more at risk than people in the ?healthy BMI? range. Possibly they may even do better once the illness has developed. People with a ?healthy BMI? who have a poor diet and are unfit are likely to be at greater risk. Being underweight is a health risk, too.

Body weight is not irrelevant, but lifestyle matters more. ?On Aspire for Life, we work with members as individuals to help them improve their health. We can help you achieve and maintain your weight at whatever level you feel best with. Fitness does matter, so you have an activity coach as well as a dietitian. We also help you develop an appreciation and enjoyment of good food.?

?Dr Tim Lindley, Director, Aspire for Life.

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Source: http://blog.aspireforlife.com/2012/12/the-obesity-paradox-overweight-means-better-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-obesity-paradox-overweight-means-better-health

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