Why Yes
I will have another slab of ribs
About two years ago, a group of federal researchers reported that overweight people have a lower death rate than people who are normal weight, underweight or obese. Now, investigating further, they found out which diseases are more likely to lead to death in each weight group.
Linking, for the first time, causes of death to specific weights, they report that overweight people have a lower death rate because they are much less likely to die from a grab bag of diseases that includes Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, infections and lung disease. And that lower risk is not counteracted by increased risks of dying from any other disease, including cancer, diabetes or heart disease.
…Some who studied the relation between weight and health said the nation might want to reconsider what are ideal weights.
“If we use the criteria of mortality, then the term ‘overweight’ is a misnomer,” said Daniel McGee, professor of statistics at Florida State University.
“I believe the data,” said Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, a professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego. A body mass index of 25 to 30, the so-called overweight range, “may be optimal,” she said.
Bring it on!
Swill Food and Grog | Mr. Bingley | 
November 8, 2007 7:07 am
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Mmmmmmmmmmm! That looks GOOD!
And people looked at me funny when I told them I bought chocolate for my great-uncle for his 90th birthday last month. The man knows what he’s doing.
Hey, at 90 he should be washing down his foie gras with the single malt of his choice! More power to him.
I know it’s horrible to say this, and I will probably come to regret these words, but I’d honestly rather die of heart disease than of Alzheimer’s.
(I think they’re still saying we “fatties”* are more prone to heart problems?)
I wonder if this is going to trickle down to the “war on obesity” folks and we’ll actually see things like grade schools allowing cupcakes for birthday celebrations once again.
(*In my case, “fatty” = being about 25 lbs. over what the weight charts claim I should be. I still think there’s a much larger death risk once you start to get into the 350 lb or so neighborhood)
Nah, Mr. Bingley–he’s a cognac-and-cigars kind of fella. 🙂
Parachuted into Normandy, still manages to get to Holland every year for a reunion in the town his squadron helped liberate. Amazing man. So when he tells me I’m looking good and he should lose some weight, we all scream, “Nooo!”
And you’re right, ricki; the article does say that the obese folks are still in a heap of trouble along with those scrawny bastards.
Those of us who are “built for comfort, not for speed” are golden.
Kate, he sounds like an amazing fellow. god bless him, and thank god we had him.
Love that platter, Bing!
This scrawny fellow had better start doubling up on dessert.