Is it really healthier to be overweight?

Courtesy of Heather Leeson & Sally Milne of Positive Nutrition, some sense about the rather dubious science quoted in last week’s Irish Times Health Section…(newspapers courting controversy?)

Readers of the health section of the Irish Times may have noticed an article in last week’s edition entitled ‘obesity paradox: new study finds being mildly overweight is healthier’?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2013/0122/1224329135137.html

While it might make an eye-catching title, it’s a bit misleading. The article is based on a recent review of 97 studies http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1555137#qundefined

that does indeed find that being mildly overweight (BMI 25 – 30) is associated with lower deaths. It also clearly shows that moderate obesity and above (BMI > 35) is associated with significantly higher rates of death. However the fundamental flaw in all of this is the measure used to determine a healthy weight – BMI. This is simply a calculation of your weight and height and does not reflect your body composition. Research clearly shows that all fat is not equal and that carrying excess weight around the middle (visceral fat) will increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and cancer.

So you can be heavier all over and be healthier than someone who is slimmer, but carrying proportionally more weight around the middle. We also know that it can be healthier to be heavier and active than lean and sedentary.

The best way to check if you are the right weight and shape is to have your body fat percentage measured, using a professional bio-impedence machine. Another check you can do at home is your waist:hip ratio. Simply measure the smallest part of your waist (just above your belly button) and the widest part of your hips and divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement e.g. waist of 34 inches, hips of 42 inches = 34/42 = 0.81. A healthy ratio is 0.8 or less for a woman and 0.95 for a man.

If you find that your body fat percentage or your waist:hip ratio are too high, then you need to take steps to improve your diet and increase your activity levels now. If you don’t know where to start, Marilyn Glenville’s nutritionists running the ground breaking Fat Around The Middle course, starting next week in Rathmines, can help you. Learn how to improve your health and your waistline over 12 weeks with meal plans, recipes, one-to-one advice from the nutrition team as well as talks on nutrition and exercise topics each week. For more information call us on 01 4020777 or log on to http://positivenutrition.ie/category/weight-loss/