Posted on 06/30/2005 2:30:21 PM PDT by MRMEAN
Overweight people who are otherwise healthy may increase their risk of dying by intentionally losing weight, according to provocative new research.
A study of 2,957 twins in Finland found that those who were overweight who lost weight on purpose were about 86 percent more likely to die for any reason over the next 18 years compared with those whose weight remained stable.
The researchers cautioned, however, that only 268 people in the study died, a number too small to justify any firm recommendations about whether overweight people should try to lose weight.
Skeptics who think health authorities have exaggerated the risks of being overweight said the findings offer fresh support. Other researchers, however, said that the study's weaknesses undercut the findings, and that there is overwhelming evidence that being overweight increases the risk of a host of health problems.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Common sense says that obesity speeds up the death process.
This crap is getting out of hand. First, obesity is the new crisis, but now it's a crisis if you intentionally lose weight. Apparently, unintentionally losing weight is not a problem.
I hope I don't die in 18 months.
I mean 18 years.
This just in: Life carries a 100% risk of death.
I have seen this many times. I think cancer hides in fat/adipose tissue, and when it is dissolved, the cancer is released.
Common sense says that physiological stress speeds up the death process. It would be interesting to see the statistical analysis based on (1) amount of weight lost, (2) number of pounds the person was overweight and (3) the method/time period used to lose the weight.
Being very overweight carries significant risks. Being somewhat overweight (and that includes the lower levels of "obesity" for many people when judged from actuarial tables) may be less stressful than the methods and time intervals required for the weight loss.
Just my $.02.
Further evidence that not getting fat in the first place is urgently important.
While I think it's way premature to be telling fat people not to lose weight, it's well-established that becoming fat causes physiological changes which cannot be completely reversed by losing the weight. A slightly overweight child should be treated as a health emergency, instead of the current approach of "hoping he'll outgrow it" and "encouraging the child to make healthier food choices". The effective approach is to physically prevent the child from accessing any food which s/he shouldn't be eating. Worry about changing the child's decision-making and impulse-control skills much later, when s/he's old enough to grasp the importance, and isn't already doomed to a life of poor health.
I thought death and sudden severe weight loss went together.
I hope I don't die in 18 months.
I have lost 110 lbs. What does that mean for me?
I know how hard it is.
"I have lost 110 lbs"
What did you eat??? How long did it take? Congratulations!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.