Furious Seasons

November 07, 2007

Report: Being Overweight Is Good

An interesting article in today's New York Times that will prove very upsetting to some in the public health community who've turned into what I call "body nazis" due to their claims that Americans are killing themselves by being overweight. As it turns out, the epidemiological evidence shows that people who are slightly overweight (25 to 29 on the controversial body mass index scale) are healthier and succumb to fewer diseases than do people of normal weight (the presumed BMI ideal of 20 to 25), the obese (30 and over) and the underweight (less than 20).

Of course, I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that the food and weight crazies in the public health and health activist worlds have, in recent years, been proven completely wrong about fat-free diets (oops, they didn't prevent cancer!), cholesterol (the egg is our friend again!) and, now, body weight. Part of the reason I am enjoying this so much--aside from the fact that I check in at about 28 on the BMI--is that these folks have been filled with such hyperbole and hysteria in making their arguments and demanding that laws be enacted to prevent Americans from eating certain foods. Some of them even advocate for portion control laws.

Well, it's time to say bye-bye to that piece of the Nanny State. Good riddance.

And if these learned folks were so off-base on all of the above, why the hell should we trust what public health officials tell us about depression and other mental disorders, and how we should treat them?

Posted by Philip Dawdy at November 7, 2007 11:38 AM

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Comments

This isn't new news. It's just buried news. There is a ton of evidence that being heavy is not the cause of much disease and alternately it is completely possible to be healthy and fat.

Listen to Gina Colada on NPR:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11606653

or buy her book Rethinking Thin

There are lots of other critics out there about the bullshit surrounding weight as well.

The biggest issue about weight is the bigotry those of us who are fat face everyday. People hate fat people and it's not even particularly un PC to give fat people shit.

There are some very good blogs out there on the politics of fat---look around for them.

Posted by: Gianna at November 7, 2007 12:49 PM

"Body nazis" ha! ha!
Pass the wine and pasta! There is a God.

Posted by: Stephany at November 7, 2007 01:18 PM

Does this mean zaftig is sexy?
Rubenesque women are desirable??

Posted by: susan at November 7, 2007 04:23 PM

Yeah ok fatty. Lose weight because you look like crap

Posted by: Kilgore Trout at November 30, 2007 06:50 PM

kilgore, besides leaving a comment that looks like one left on the SLOG--I think it' a good point you make--people are critical of overweight people in general, have no idea there could be health issues behind the gain that causes much grief for the person, where it gets tied into mental health wellness, is often why young women become anorexic, and men too. Pressure from society to appear in a bodily form that for some is not attainable, causes so much anguish, that people do not leave the house, starve themselves, use diet aides, just because of comments like the one you left here. Intentional pain or unintentional mental anguish inflicted upon others with comments like that --especially on the internet, can cause innocent people with the weight being a major issue in their life [for instance body dysmorphic, anoerexia, bulimia] to do self harm, or suicide as a result of internalizing comments such as those. Not far off base here for me to remind about the young girl who killed herself due to angst caused in a internet conversation.

So, leaving a one liner that seems innocent to you "trout"--could actually be a dangerous trigger for an innocent reader.

Posted by: Stephany at December 1, 2007 03:41 AM