I think it is not good how the google ads on your site lead to a an eli lilly 'bipolar test' website...

thanks off topic, but like everyone else who puts google ads on their site, i have zero control over the content. however, i do find it amusing that if someone clicked on that ad then lilly would be helping to fund this site!

I still must wonder whether eating less (as opposed to being thinner) is healthier. Calorie restriction undeniably lengthens the lifespan of rodents, although it looks like there are no conclusive studies of humans.

Google crawls the pages and places "relevant" ads in those boxes, they change with the page. I have ads on my site as well, and have no control over what ad shows up.

So I've now read both of the NY Times articles linked to in this and the previous article. I guess I understand what they're getting at. I too think that body imaging is rather off in our culture.

Yet, I have a BMI of 19. For my age and height I'm in the 14th percentile for weight. Yes, I'm skinny and I'd like some added weight, which I've tried with weight-gaining supplements and working out. But the problem I have with this new data is that it suggests that the slightly overweight will live longer than I will like that is necessarily a better thing. I don't have a problem if I don't live as long as someone overweight. If it's between looking my best and dying later, I'll choose looking my best. As my grandfather says, "The problem with getting old is that it's boring. There is nothing to do." (He's 80 and my great-grandma is 96 and she's rather bored with it all too.) I'd rather spend the majority of my life extremely healthy than not and die sooner.

Maybe this is just showing that I'm ingrained into the "looking good" culture too much. I just don't like the idea of suggesting that people should put on a few extra, unneeded pounds so they live longer.

Nathaniel I think you totally missed the boat on this one. The point is it IS NOT unhealthy to be "overweight." The point is that we should recalibrate how we look and think about weight. I'm grossly offended that you think being thin and living a shorter life is better than being fat and living longer suggesting the quality of life of someone fat must be so godawful that it's not worth living.

I could say something equally offensive back at you, but I won't because I don't want to hurt the feelings of other people who are not as thickheaded as you but have your body type.

My apologizes Gianna, didn't mean to offend anyone. I personally would rather be thin, but I have absolutely nothing against those that do not have my body type. It's not that I think it's awful to be overweight. I admit I do think of a different quality of life (mainly activities I associate), but I suppose I'm thinking of the very overweight instead of the slightly overweight which is I guess more of what this study is referring to. A few extra pounds is fine, don't have a problem with that and don't associate a different life with that at all.

I suspect most everyone thinks of a different quality of life though. You really only hear of those who are trying to lose weight. If there weren't a different quality of life why would someone want to lose weight in the first place?

I personally cannot agree that it's not unhealthy to be overweight, perhaps it's not as bad as was originally believed. I grew up in a very health conscious household, and in that upbringing being overweight was not healthy. It'll be hard to break myself out of that mindset.

Again, rather sorry to have offended anyone and I hope this doesn't offend anyone either.

Nathaniel,
Before I started my drug withdrawals which have led to chronic fatigue so I don't exercise anymore I hiked 3 - 4 times a week for up to four hours a day in the mountains...no flat trails. I used a treadmill on my off days. I lifted weights. I ate a low fat diet of lean proteins and tons of veggies. I ate no sugar, refined flour, alcohol, caffeine or processed foods. I did not overeat. I ate less then many people I know who are of average or thin weight. I weighed 200 lbs I'm 5' 7. I was fucking healthy by every indicator possible except my weight. Cholesterol good, tryglicerides good. Heart healthy and strong. There are hundreds and thousands of us out there. And I know for a fact I eat better than virtually everyone I know who has a average or thin body. No doubt in my mind whatsoever.

You write:
If there weren't a different quality of life why would someone want to lose weight in the first place?

BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU THINK WE'RE FAT PIGS AND HATE US. THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT.

Interesting timing, my nephrologist wants me to stop losing weight, as I know from reading, people with kidney failure who are overweight live longer by far than those who are average to thin weight. Looking good versus being alive? Is that a serious question for anyone? Maybe the beautiful scars (not) from several dialysis access surgeries make me think that is a little ablist, or maybe it is all the great people I know who don't look like our norm of beautiful who I think are beautiful, maybe it's remembering the folks I knew who died of AIDS at BMI's of nothing, but really, I have trouble understanding this concept.

Body image is key to note, alongside health factors, because of the anorexic factor in [for instance super-model syndrome]. Look at how Tyra Banks was written about when she gained a few pounds[for example]. She was/is healthy and beautiful, and this is why women especially are prone to feeling insecure re: body size/type regardless of how healthy they are. Also, has anyone ever noticed some of the food/body health-types at health food stores look pale, and gaunt?
[Im sure that offended someone, sorry].But the point here is, no one should place restrictions on what we eat, hell like the fast food fried food thing: who cares what type of oil is used? it's fried food and whopping calories! and it's a person's choice to take it or leave it.

Gianna, you are beautiful, and yes, psychiatric medications are indeed a topic here, because look at the weight gain Seroquel, Depakote, Zyprexa, Xanax, etc. cause. It changes metobolic stuff in the body, and often a person could starve themselves and won't lose weight.

Also: on the off topic question above re: the ads on this site:

Out of curiousity, I clicked on a bipolar ad, and found these pages. The ad is called Bipolar Education center, provided by Bipolar Connect dot com. That page is loaded with Geodon ads.

GJ Gregory-health central

McManamy health central

I believe a happy life is the best one to achieve, that's what counts.

I'm very sorry Gianna. I've neglected a lot in my viewpoint and so I'll keep quiet. I'm willing to admit I am wrong. I hope the medication withdrawals get better, they're always such hell.