Lots of researches proof that overweight is associated with health diseases. However, there are also lots of studies shows that the overweight people are not living shorter than the people who are in the category that we deem normal. In my opinion, I agree with the latter. As long as you are eating healthfully, exercising regularly and taking care of your own personal health, you are a healthy person despite you are listed as “overweight”.
First of all, we have to know what is BMI. “Adult Body Mass Index(BMI) is a way to determine whether your weight is a healthy one. For most people, BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness. It is calculated based on your height and weight.”1
- If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the "underweight" range.
- If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, it falls within the "normal" or Healthy Weight range.
- If your BMI is 25.0 to 29.9, it falls within the "overweight" range.
- If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the "obese" range.
－CDCP (U.S.), Assessing Your Weight
According to a report done by the National Health Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report, "overweight" and "obese" increases the risks of getting coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancers(endometrial, breast, and colon), hypertension, dyslipidemiavels of triglycerides, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, gynecological problems, etc.2 In addition, there are dozen of researches and studies proofs that “obese” and “underweight” are associated with higher mortality rate.
On the other hand, "overwieght" doesn't equal to the enhancement of mortality; indeed, there are certain numbers of health specialists claim that the BMI standard have been set too low. From the 1950s to the recent time, there are lots of researches and studies showing that "overwieght" doesn't increase the mortality rate. According to a landmark report, The International Journal of Obesity, done by the researchers at the Cornell University and the National Center for Health Statistic in 1996, the relationship between BMI and mortality among both non-smoked men and women were U-shpaed; males in the BMI range of 23-29 are actually living the longest lives, and the females in the category of both normal and overweight shared the same death rate.3
In fact, all of us can be healthy, even though we are in the category of "overweight". It is all depends on our lifestyle. A healthy weight is about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular exercises, and balancing the number of calories you consume.4 If we are eating healthfully and taking care of our own physical and mental health, each of us can be a healthy person. Although BMI is only a measurement, but we should still pay attention to it because we should keep in our mind that "obese" and "underweight" are equal to unhealthy.
Finally, I would like to share a Youtube video about the debate of this topic.
Direct Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrY2wkIl4Iw&feature=relmfu
References:
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Weight - it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle: Assessing Your Weight:
2NIH, NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. Available online:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.pdf
3Gaesser GA. Thinner May Not Be Healthier. Big fat lies: The truth about your weight and your health, 2002, p97-98. Carlsbad, CA: Gurze Books.
4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Weight - it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle: Introduction:
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