It's a badly run study. Let's say we have two white people: one is athletic and slim, and the other is overweight. What do we know about these people already? The athletic person probably has time for exercise, lower stress overall, and the money to eat good food--thus, the athletic person also has the money for better medical care.

What do we know about the people who are overweight--they probably have access to lower quality food, higher stress jobs with poor work environments, and less access to health care.

Anyone who takes this study and presumes that it is weight alone that is causing the (slightly) higher death rate is a complete idiot who does not deserve the right to the term "researcher." This is just badly, badly designed, and I cannot understand how this even got published in its current form.

Are the peer-reviewed journals really stupid enough to print something this obviously flawed? Correlation is not causation--someone needs to remind these bozos of that.

You are absolutely right.

The overweight people are not dying sooner because they are overweight, but rather because of elements that are causing them to be overweight - lack of exercise, poor nutrition, etc.

What a Micky Mouse study. The more I read MSNBC, the more their journalism reads like something out of high school.

I've written several articles that were published in peer-reviewed, clinical journals and yes, they ARE that flawed. First of all, not all journals are created equal -- not all have the money and prestige to be sterling and guarded like JAMA or NEJM. Like everything else in this country, journals publish whatever pays and gets attention and go where the money goes. They also use peer reviewers who aren't paid for what they do. Accordingly, the reviewers' names aren't listed in the article, and since the review process is blinded, the author doesn't know who they are, either. In other words, the peer reviewers are anonymous. Therefore, it is dubious as to how much time they actually give the article and how much scrutiny they put it under. The only "payment" journal reviewers get is a listing of their name once a year in the publication and the opportunity to list in their CV that they are a reviewer for a certain journal. This in turn gives the reviewers more opportunities to you guessed it -- make more money!!

"...A proponent of the "fit and fat" theory, Blair said his research has shown that obese people who are tested and deemed fit did not face increased risks of dying.

"If we want to get to the bottom of the health hazards of overweight and obesity, we have to have better data on physical activity," Blair said. "Until we do that, there's uncertainty of how important BMI is as an important predictor of mortality.""
-------

What's missing is any kind of clear connection between a few extra pounds, and "premature" death. Perhaps the weight itself isn't the culprit. It may well be that some underlying condition makes it easier to gain a few pounds, AND kills you. That's the part that these studies always seem to miss.

These types of studies are not really "medical research", they are more like simple exercises in statistics. They tell you WHAT happens, with a high degree of probability. They don't tell you WHY, and a lot of people seem to fail to recognize the difference.

The one thing these studies are truly good at is getting the names of previously unknown researchers into print.

The left is looking for one more reason to tell us what to EAT!!

My definition of obesity is "sick body of a sick mind". If we have too many obese people today in the world it is not only about the easily availability of any type of food in endless proportion. It is also because there is an insatiable hunger in the human mind. A mind hungering for calm, tranquility, peace, joy, loving relationships, tenderness & care in the home/family... My theory is that when the hungers of the mind are unsatisfied they create the hungers of the body - obsessive and compulsive eating and sex. OC eating and sex characterizes our American way of life! The so called, "the American dream". What a dream we have achieved! Something, we feel proud about being in the USA. Yea, damn right! We have achieved a "sick body and a sick mind"!

Bean@home: How on earth did you come up with those absurd assumptions? I have a coworker/friend who is in roughly the same position and makes the same money as I do. I have kids and a wife to support; he doesn't. However, I make time for working out (mostly cycling and running) and staying fit and he doesn't it, and it shows. He doesn't have any additional work stress for financial concerns, and he doesn't have the family time suck outside of work. It's simply a choice. Don't go for the easy out, assuming everyone that's overweight and unhealthy must be poor and/or stressed. Over 2/3 of our country is overweight, and that wasn't the case a generation ago, so I don't think we all suddenly became poor and stressed.

Fonk, your post is spot on. I know many people, who just as you describe, have the financial and time means to be/get fit, but they choose not to. They also choose to ignore health concerns, even though they have great employer sponsored health insurance

I guess the reserchers forgot to mention that being a hater,lier and coniver will keep obese people alive...example:rush limbaugh,newt gingrich,glenn beck,& Mr. barbara bush lived a very,very,very long time......all of them seen to live longer than people who tell the truth,and try to live a decent life...but the saying goes "the good die young"..they need to add that hypothesis into the mix..

Maybe the next political scientist can conduct a study showing it's beneficial to tax overweight people. You know, incentive to lose weight yet cashflow to fund the next social program.

tea bag not. . . .You sir are an idiot and your comment has nothing to do with the article at hand. Only someone how has such a narrow ideology and world view could somehow bring politics or political pundits into the debate of weight.

I agree with much of what you are saying, but also disagree on a few. I don't care for living as long as possible, but would like to live as healthy as possible. Yeah there are a lot of people on this planet, but I don't think we are living longer than we are designed for.

But lighten up, I do think keep healthy and good figure is very much a worthwhile thing to do. Doesn't everyone want to look good? Just think how much one can save if one's clothing size doesn't change for 20, 30, 40+ years? There is an article yesterday about the 92 years old yoga master still in dance competitions. Read it, that's the way to go :)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40414954/ns/health-aging/

I agree. People gotta die of something, sometime. There seems to be a growing delusion that we all could live forever if we just took care of ourselves. By the way, I can't afford to live forever so I may as well have fun.

I agree with reeder on this one. It's not the length of time you live, but the quality of your life that most people are concerned about. Honestly i dont want to live to be 90 something. I would hate barely being able to see hear or remember anything. I don't think many people do want to live into their 90's. Being obese hinders your ability to enjoy life even when your young. Obese children often cant ware the same clothes, or participate in sports as easily. They also get teased and bullied ruining their developing social skills. Obese adults ofen have health problems linked to their lower activity which is linked to their extra weight. This also effects their social lives. It's also proven that obese women are more likely to give birth to an unhealthy child. Though none of this has to do with living forever. It has a lot to do with the need to live healthier, no matter how long that may be.

haha. Nice now lets get millions in government funding to conduct the research!

I know! A piece of it hit me on the head the other day. Knocked me on my you know what.

I just like less fat people crowding me on the subway.

Well said.... within reason of course.

Let's see if you still feel that way when you're 70. Not saying you're wrong, just saying when you're 70, you might want to hang around until you're 90.

Now how can I argue with that?? ;-)

Don't forget to post again on your 69th birthday. Let us know how you feel about having one year left to live.

I had gastric bypass surgery about a year ago and have dropped from 320 lbs down to 175 lbs. I had a friend who was only 3 years older than I am who was also overweight tell me, upon hearing that I had the surgery, that he didn't think he could enjoy life not being able to eat deserts, drink his scotch and smoke his cigars (things you can't do after having gastric bypass surgery). 7 months later he died of a stroke at the age of 45 leaving behind a wife and young son. Given the choice between the relatively insignificant restrictions placed on me for living healthier and trading places with my friend, I'll choose living, thanks. Besides, it's not about "living forever", it's about truly living well while you're alive.

So to answer your question, "Who cares?"...your family and friends do.

"Well said.... within reason of course"

within who's reason? yours, mine? oh no wait the govenment decides what is "within reason"

Calling BS on that one, when the doctor tells you, you have 6 months to live. Easy to say now and watch what you wish for.

If you change your eating habits to a cleaner diet, within a few months that is actually what you will enjoy, and you will no longer even crave pizza or french fries, etc. I eat very cleanly and minimally, took off weight, and enjoy things like running and skiing instead of eating as a hobby. It's just a matter of changing your head around. Not easy, but it's really amazing how you can change yourself if you just bite the bullet for a few months.

No one has banned anything. The worst that has happened is the mere SUGGESTION that maybe we ought to add a few pennies of tax to those things that are KNOWN to increase the healthcare burden SUBSTANTIALLY (e.g., cigarettes, fast food, soda, etc.). Atherogenic "Happy Meals" still sell with abandon all over this country.

I'm afraid you've ridden the "slippery slope" of ideology much too far and without much scrutiny or thought. Maybe that's why you think it is December 01, 1983. This is, in fact, 2010. Set your calendar forward a bit. When you are updated, then make comments about who the enemy is and is not. Meanwhile, see how long it takes you to figure out what "atherogenic" means before going to an online dictionary.

Aviela, over the last three years I have been reading the way things are heading and you would be wise to do so as well but hey if you like the control, stay in denial. Take the time and LEARN to put puzzles together.

Where exactlly do you "read" these things from?

You know, just because you read some random crap on the internet DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE right? I'm guessing you don't. The same also applys for TV, and books. Don't be such a tool, and don't believe everything you read/see, especially on the internet. I could go make a site right now, make it look all official, and just start writing random and completely made up crap... and no one can stop me. The funny part? If the random, fictonal crap I write sounds good enough and is filled with a touch of conspiracy.... people like you will flock to my site and tell all their friends about the "facts" they just read. So again... don't believe everything you read, and actually check the facts behind it from a non-conspiracy site.

Case in point: No one has, or ever will ban The Happy Meal (or the toy for that matter). I saw someone buy one today while I was waiting in line at McDonalds... so your wrong to even suggest it has been banned.

It won't be in the future either. How do I know it will never be banned? Simple: McDonalds makes a ton of money, and creates a lot of jobs... there is NO WAY IN HELL the government would do anything to make them unhappy. McDonalds is like to Big Oil, or Big Tabbaco of the food industry and there is just no way the government will force them to stop selling on of their most popular products.

The only thing the government has done is encouraged McDonalds to not use hydrogenated oil in their food because such oils are one of the worst things a person can eat. Some states did in fact "ban" those oils... but they are easily replaced with other oils and the food stays the same.

John S the city of San Francisco is trying to ban the happy meal right now! New York City fines restaurants for too much fat or salt. The food police are on the rise. The Government has no place encouraging McDonalds to do anything. The people know what they want and will pay for it! Where in the US constitution are these powers delegated to the Federal Government?

Yea..ah,ah yesss..Let me have a no. 4 medium with a "diet coke",& a chicken nugget happy meal{which I truly call a sad meal} with a toy for a boy,apple dippers instead of french fries...& bar-b-q sauce,huh? yea a sprite with that "sad meal"............lol....................we are the fatest country on earth.....=MONEY!!..It's all about money,dough,cash,fin,green-backs,benjemens,buck,loot..etc.

Rob, you are mistaken. I live in Oakland and work in SF. They're not banning the happy meal.

Specifically, the measure will make San Francisco the first major city in the country to forbid restaurants from offering a free toy with meals that contain more than set levels of calories, sugar and fat.

It's pretty much pure hyperbole and hysteria designed to sell newspapers/get clicks to say San Francisco has "banned" the happy meal. Tea Party on, if you must, but those are the facts.

I think it's funny how pissed off people get when you tell them you may just limit their junk food. It's almost like a drug to some of you. I read things that imply you are fat, and claim to also be happy. When i must question how your sex life is, or what it's like when you take your kids/grand kids to the park. Also how much do you enjoy clothes shopping for those three XL shirts and those parachute pants. I think a lot of you are lying about how you really feel about being fat. I'm sure many of you dream to be thin but just don't want to do the work, so you claim to be happy with your body.

Meanwhile there are people amongst you who strive to choose the freshest wholest foods, the greenest vegetables, and the most beneficial work outs. It may be pricey sometimes and time consuming but we do it for our own benefit, to take care of our bodies, so we can live a quality life. Watching you slowly kill yourself with your Twinkies (which i bet you don't even know what they are made of) worries and even sickens us. You claim to be happy, but are you?

The government seems to be trying to steer us in the right direction with food since you are sure to flood our health care system with your diet related diseases (I don't want to pay for your diabetes medications). The goverment is having a hard enough time feeding the hungry, let alone do they want to tend to people who are eating themselves into an early grave. These changes need to be made. With every generation, changes must happen with the changing of the times. Since it seems we wont be fixing the problem ourselves, the government stepped in so that obesity doesn't become a way to describe the majority.

Veggie,

It isn't the government's job to steer me ANYWHERE. That is one of the major problems with this country.

cg8doc, then don't listen. They aren't forcing vegetables down your throat. Though i know plenty of people who could use them. They are just telling you about their research findings, trying to give you the information you need to eat and live as healthily as possible. Like i said, they have enough hungry people to take care of.

It's hard not to listen when the government regulates things like trans fats, or salt etc etc etc. The guiding principle of the government should be more personal liberty and more personal responsibility not less of each.

cg,

do you even know what trans fats are? Trans fats are man made fats, artificial. I think the gov. has every right to regulate them since they where the ones who put them in our food to begin with!!!!

When we found out that our bodies arnt capable of using them, or breaking them down in any way, steps where made to limit them. They eventually got banned. You complain about how they are regulating what goes in our foods and what not, but they are only regulating the things that have been added to the foods to make them cheaper, less perishable, and tastier. However it's all bad for you. Long term studies on the effects of excessive amounts of these substances were not performed until after they where in every food on the shelf.

Most other contries don't allow half the stuff in their food that we allow. All those health problems that are becoming bigger concerns are because of poor diet. Diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, osteoperosis, and impotence are among these diet related problems, most times it's preventable.

If my gov. is here for liberty, then why can't I just have the food and not all the added crap, why do i have to eat it because you want it there!? I pay taxes too. You want salt, buy a salt shaker.

cg,

i thought you where concerned about our country going bankrupt. Well what do you think having all these problems on our new health care do? I'll tell you it wont be free! in fact it will probably cost much more than the nutrition bill.

I do know what trans fats are. I get it... that our foods are loaded with unneeded crap. I got it... which is why I have opted to make/grow as much of my own food as I can. Almost all of the health issues you mentioned didn't exist in large number until after we started mass producing food, and we have reduced our manual labor. Your government is supposed to protect your liberty.. not take them away. You should be free to choose to eat trans fats if you want and then you have the responsibility to live with the consequences of those choices. It is your responsibility to educate yourself on good nutrition.. not the governments. I get pissy when people take away my choices. The government has been doing alot of that lately, and they plan to do alot more of it. The health care bill did alot of choice stealing. I could go on, but I don't want to write a disertation....

You need to see my comment almost immediately above yours! I agree with you completely. Life on this planet isn't all there is; why waste years of depriving yourself only with the expectation that you MIGHT postpone the inevitable? And yes, you're right -- we are ALL dying from the moment we are born and even if we live the most healthful, abstinence-free life imaginable, there still is no prediction about any accident, homicide, or accidental poisoning. Anything/everything can kill as at any unpredictable moment.

That is 100% true. If you're part of the segment of society that does any kind of resistance exercise the BMI is a worthless number. But that doesn't stop them from thinking about using it to set health insurance premiums etc..

It’s a hugely oversimplified measurement of something that has SO many more factors to it. I’m 5’ 10” weigh 185 pounds and my BMI is about 26.5, so I’m classified as overweight. I work out 5 times a week, 3 of those using weights. But any measurements based on this ultra simple BMI say that I need to trim down.

I agree, the BMI does not take a lot of things into consideration. My daughter is a perfect example. According to her BMI, she was fast approaching the obese level when she was in high school. She was 5'-6" and weighed 155#. She also had around 12% body fat. She was a swimmer and a cheerleader in high school and wore a size 3. Needless to say, she was VERY active, athletic and muscular. My son was also recently told that he was overweight based on his BMI. He is 5'10" and weighs 160#. Also a swimmer with body fat measured at 9%.

The BMI is a useless bit of information and this study was a complete waste of time and money.

Come on- people whose BMI is incorrect due to muscle mass are far and few between. I congratulate the above poster on his fit and active children- being that in shape is a great thing- but the vast majority of Americans are not so fit as to throw off their BMI scores. The next time you're at work or the store, look around you. Do you see a lot of muscly people, muscly enough like LeBron James or someone that their BMI's would be skewed? Or do you see a lot of overweight or obese people who are carrying around extra fat? I'm serious, if you actually do this you would have to admit that BMI, when applied to an extremely large number of people as in this study (so large that things even out, like how they are supposed to in a good study), is accurate in the vast majority of cases.

i agree book. Though it happens with athletes it isnt that common. You seriously have to have some muscles to fall into that group of people whoes BMI is incorrect due to muscle mass. No matter how much you work out, if you eat more than you burn you will stay heavier. You may gain muscles, and yes it weighs more than fat, but unless you are bulging your BMI is a pretty good indication of your health risks based on your weight to heigh ratio.

BMI is a scale used to manipulate and exagerate the obesity number of Americans. At one point the Clinton Administration changed the scale and overnight millions of americans became obese! It is total crap and many many muscular athletic people have a BMI in excess of 30. Shaquille O'neil is obese by BMI have you seen him with his shirt off? I have a 32 inch waist and by BMI I am 20-25 pounds from their perfection! Why do I have to give up muscle mass to be healthy? Is it healthier to be skinny and untoned? Or have no muscle at all? I lift weights, run, hike,and exert myself to a level few people do, yet I am obese on a piece of paper that has no way of looking at the state or condition of my body? I created my muscle mass and I guess I have to proud to be obese.

@Rob- The vast majority of Americans are not in the shape that Shaquille O'neil is in. Like I said above- go out and just observe, take a little time to look at a sampling of the American public, and you would have to admit that it's usually the case that a person's BMI is high because they are carrying around extra fat, not because they have the body of a professional athlete.

You might get ran over by a Turnip truck tomorrow too!

Careful Rob... they may want to ban turnip trucks if that happens!

I agree, people don't realize how things catch up to them later in life. I work in health care and I see people who have accumulated health problems and how miserable they are becuase of it. Not everyone is lucky enough to just drop dead, instead they suffer from long, protracted illnesses. People are free to do what they want now, but all the "fun" they have now may result in a very poor quality of life later.

I watched my very health-consious grandmother die a long protracted death of nothing but old age. No thanks, I'd rather go like the rest of my family, a little younger but enjoying life to the fullest. Pass me a cigarette and a donut, please.

Physical activity is more important than what you eat! Living in America allows you to make life style choices. It is no ones fault but your own if you are obese or unhappy! Personal responsibility goes a long way in making you the person you want to be, not fast food or twinkies! It takes a lot of effort to be fit but most people find it very rewarding and worth the time it takes.

Sarah, what a load of bull crap you posted. How about this. How about if you don't want to be fat, you don't stuff your face with fast food. No one is holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing them/you to eat fast food, or any bad junk food you can buy in the store. Here's a tidbit for ya. It actually costs a whole lot less to eat healthy/less food than junk/more food. Trust me, I've lost the weight, kept it off, and done the math. Quit the excuses.

Sarah, Have you ever heard of self control? I live in California with 23 million gorgeous women running around! I am married. I don't screw around with these women just because they are here! Get away from the donuts AND stop relying on the government to regulate industry because you and others have self-control issues! I have eaten at Rotten Ronalds twice this year! (for breakfast to be exact) I CHOSE to go there but only twice. Self control baby!

It's the emotional part that is hard. Self control is not there when food is used as a coping machanism. I know because I was there once. Once the emotional issues are overcome, losing weight becomes easier. For some people it's just a bad habbit so loosing weight is easy but for others it is akin to an addiction. Up holding a victim mentality is not helpful. Food is not the enemy. There is help out there if you truly want to be healthy and loose weight, regardless of your issues.

These studies are entirely true....regardless of anyone that claims there isn't enought evidence. Researchers have shown connections in the past by describing how the Japanese tend to live longer and are also thinner. In addition, the childhood obesity epidemic is a threat to our future national security. How will the military be able to recruit and train individuals if an entire generation is obese? This needs to be brought under control....in any way possible. America needs to remain strong and healthy in order to stay safe.

Doubt it.

Peridot, I agree. He doesn't sound very happy.

Love your post!! I feel the same way!

I am also obese, and I've been that way for about 2 years now. I'm tired about hearing all the negative crap about obese people. I've been thin and I'm now fat, and at 44 it's getting a hell of a lot harder to try and get back to being thin, even though I'm currently dieting again. My self control is getting worse as I age, and I'm ready to toss the towel in. If my weight didn't bother my husband so much, (only because he's concerned for my health-my Dad is diabetic) I'd be perfectly content to remain overweight and take my chances with my health. But because of him, I have to continue to try to lose weight, even though it's a struggle everyday.

I've tried many diets, excercise, self control, weight watchers, self control again, you get what I mean. All failed. I have an eating addiction with no simple solution-just like cigarette, drug, alcohol and EXERCISE addictions. I agree with some posters who say overeating is caused by emotional issues-I do have many issues just like the rest of us. But what makes me feel the most content and happy is when I can have that piece of pie or cake, or sit and enjoy some home made cookies. I'll never eat again when I'm dead and gone. I know this sounds like an excuse, but it is in fact a reality. Nobody will see your perfectly fit or fat body when your gone. It doesn't matter. If you are the kind of person who enjoys being healthy and having strangers admire your beautiful physique, that's your choice. I personally don't care who looks at me or not. I Know my husband loves me. I watch my sugar and cholesterol by getting yearly check ups. I'm not hurting anyone by my choices.

I just hate exercise and love to eat, plain and simple.