Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine published a meta-analysis of 19 studies that included data on 1.5 million adults.  Body mass index (BMI), which the CDC uses as a gauge for obesity, and death was tracked from five to 28 years.  Smokers and those with cardiovascular disease were not included in the study.

BMI works this way (for more details visit CDC.gov):

-Under 24.9 is considered normal weight

-25+ is overweight

-30+ is obese

-40+ is morbidly obese

What they found was women with 22.5-24.9 BMI had the lowest death rate. Overweight adults (25 to 29.9 BMI) had a 13.9% increased risk of death.  For those with a BMI of 30 to 39.9, they had an increased death rate ranged from 44-88% higher depending on level of obesity.  Morbidly obese individuals were 2.5 x more likely to die than those with ideal BMI (22.5-24.9).

What this means is that a person really needs to “mind the store” or should I say, “mind the storage.” Even being 10-15# overweight can increase your risk of death almost 15%.  Excess body fat produces higher levels of the sex hormone estrogen in women and testosterone in men, which leads to various cancers.  Keep thinking of ways to reduce excess body weight, which are best modified through nutrition and physical exertion.  Even in the dead of winter, for those in cold climates, you can perform workouts at home if necessary.

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