People who are pleasantly plump might have a lower risk of dying than those who are considered the ideal weight or who are markedly obese, according to a U.S. government report.
The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reviewed 97 studies involving more than 2.88 million people globally. It found the lowest risk among those who are overweight though not obese, according to generally accepted health standards. Those just over the obesity threshold had the next lowest risk.
The findings, by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were immediately challenged because the report didn’t consider gender, age, fat distribution, or fitness levels, all factors that influence the risk of disease and death.
Because of this, the researchers agreed no recommendations should be made based on their findings.
The report also shouldn’t be viewed as a pass to overindulge, the researchers said. The heaviest participants were 29 percent more likely to die from any cause during the course of the studies, according to the data.
