13 January 2013
HEALTH: Being overweight could have some health benefits.
By Hannah Lerstad, Staff Writer
A new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that being slightly overweight can help people live longer.
The most likely explanation for this, researchers believe, is that overweight people get more medical attention, either because they show symptoms of diseases earlier on or are checked more regularly for diseases caused by their weight (such as diabetes or heart problems). However, the researchers also felt that having a little extra fat could be a survival tool against illness. When overweight patients get sick, they have extra energy reserves to draw from, and when they lose fat fighting illness, it is not as detrimental to their health.
The study noted an important distinction in the limitations of extra weight. The study found that obese people – especially those who are extremely obese – tend to die sooner than those of normal weight. The findings illustrated that people who are overweight – but not obese – may live longer than people who have a normal body weight.
On average, overweight patients were six percent less likely to die than the patients of normal weight. However, the study focused only on life spans, not the quality of life of the overweight patients. It showed that overweight people may live longer but that it is likely their weight lessened their quality of life.
This information could have a positive influence on America’s image-centered culture. Information on the health quality of overweight people may improve the self-esteem of people struggling with their weight. In the image-intensive world of high school, this study has the potential to redefine the relationship between teenagers and body image.