Surprising study: Excessive thinness is
more dangerous to health than mild obesity
- Danish researchers have revealed that excessive thinness
- may pose a greater health risk than being overweight
- or mildly obese, as a person can be "fat but physically fit".
In the study
the research team followed 85,761 people over five years, during which 8% of participants (7,555) died. 81.4% of participants were female, and their average age at the beginning of the study was 66.4 years.
The results showed that people
who were overweight or slightly obese were no more likely to die than those who fell within the upper healthy range of BMI (22.5–25), a phenomenon sometimes known as "obesity with fitness."
People
in the underweight category
(BMI less than or equal to 18.5)
were 2.7 times more likely to die than the reference category. Even those with an index between 18.5 and 20 were twice as likely to die, and people in the middle of the health range (20–22.5) had a 27% higher death rate.
On the other hand, the study showed that second-degree obesity
(35–40) increases the risk of death by 23%.
In some cases
- the disease itself is the cause of the weight loss, not the thinness itself,"
- explained Dr. Sigrid Berg Grebschult, principal investigator
- from Aarhus University Hospital.
Older adults with a high BMI may also
have protective traits that reduce the risk of death.
Thinness and hidden visceral fat
These results come after another study revealed that thin people may still be at risk of having a heart attack due to visceral fat hidden around the liver, stomach and intestines, which is not visible from the outside.
Researchers found that
- high triglyceride levels are linked to accelerated cardiovascular aging
- suggesting that body shape may be more important
- than weight alone in assessing heart health.
The results showed that
men with an
"apple" body shape were more likely to accelerate heart aging, while women with a "pear" body shape, which is designed to store fat around the hips and thighs, were less likely to get sick and had healthier, more youthful hearts.
The results of this study are presented at the annual meeting of
the European Society for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, Austria.
Obesity is one of
the most prominent health problems in the modern era, as it is linked to many chronic diseases that negatively affect quality of life. Its dangers go beyond appearance to become a serious threat to both physical and mental health.
One of the major health risks associated
with obesity is the increased likelihood of developing heart and vascular diseases due to fat accumulation on blood vessel walls, which raises the chances of clots and heart attacks. Obesity is also linked to high blood pressure and elevated levels of harmful cholesterol.
In addition
obesity is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes, as excess weight affects the body’s ability to use insulin effectively. It also raises the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon and breast cancer.
The risks are not limited to
physical health but also extend to mental well-being. People with obesity often face issues with self-confidence and may experience social discrimination, which can lead to depression or anxiety.
Preventing obesity
starts with adopting a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and monitoring weight consistently. Maintaining a healthy weight is not just about appearance, but rather an investment in one’s long-term health and life.