Still No Opinion
I was asked my opinion about this study, which tied even moderate overweight with higher mortality rates. I didn't post because I'm not a scientist, nor am I interested in arguing that overweight doesn't have ancillary health risks associated with it. I also wasn't sure if I should believe counter-articles that argued that the methodology in the studies might be flawed.
However, now there's yet another indication that perhaps the studies were flawed; this article even goes so far as to suggest they might be meaningless.
"Although the researchers collected information on physical activity, they provided no analysis - even though a significant body of credible evidence has found good health to be associated with fitness levels. Comparisons between 'overweight' active people and 'overweight' inactive people would likely have yielded a completely different headline."
I still don't know what to think about the studies and their validity. All things being equal, having good cardiovascular health is probably the most important element, regardless of weight. And it seems extreme to say that even a small bit of excess weight is dangerous. I am more inclined to believe previous studies suggesting that diet and fitness level count more than actual fat cells on one's body.
However, now there's yet another indication that perhaps the studies were flawed; this article even goes so far as to suggest they might be meaningless.
"Although the researchers collected information on physical activity, they provided no analysis - even though a significant body of credible evidence has found good health to be associated with fitness levels. Comparisons between 'overweight' active people and 'overweight' inactive people would likely have yielded a completely different headline."
I still don't know what to think about the studies and their validity. All things being equal, having good cardiovascular health is probably the most important element, regardless of weight. And it seems extreme to say that even a small bit of excess weight is dangerous. I am more inclined to believe previous studies suggesting that diet and fitness level count more than actual fat cells on one's body.
1 Comments:
There are lots of studies that show that leanness and reduced caloric intake promote longevity. There are lots of studies that show that cardiovascular fitness promotes longevity. There are lots of studies that show that fat tissue is very important in the regulation of many hormonal processes in the body and that an excess of fat tissue causes dysregulation of these processes, including type II diabetes.
What there are NOT a lot of studies on is the RELATIVE importance of all these things. Not only is it hard to dissociate diet from activity from weight in most of the population, I think it's likely to be highly individually variable. This is true of most health risks: some people can smoke all their lives and never get sick from it, other people have deadly allergic reactions to cats. So which is more dangerous, cats or cigarettes? It depends on who you are.
The scientific evidence is pretty strong that weight does contribute to overall health, but it's just one factor. Lindsay Lohan's a lot thinner than I am, but judging from her grocery list, I intend to outlive her by 10 years.
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