Those of us who are overweight know that if we can only drop a
few pounds we can get lower blood pressure, don't we? After all, for
years - a lifetime even - we've been hammered with the health risks of
obesity. High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer... you
name it, if you have a BMI above 30 you're at risk of it!
Finally a new study published in the International Journal of Obesity has determined the exact medical risk of obesity: zero. That's right. The large survey of nearly 20,000 people from different age groups and time periods showed no significant current health risks associated with being overweight based on medications prescribed.
In fact, a BMI (body mass index) in the obese range showed no health risks at all up to age of 40. In overweight men aged 40 to 70 there was only a slight increase in the percentage of medication used. Brant Jarrett, the lead researcher, explained:
There is a myth going on. Our findings show being overweight is no different from being what we believe is a healthy weight and this is across a person's entire lifespan
If ever there was a case of "more study is needed" this is it. Medications taken are surely a good indicator but they are not the only criteria of good health. And there is also a lot of conflicting evidence to consider.
But the study does clearly indicate that we have been far too eager to jump on the anti-fat bandwagon. In fact, it's not too much to suspect that the crusading zeal of many "health promoters" has influenced much of the negative findings and pronouncements on obesity in recent times.
So, while there may be other good reasons for losing weight, don't count on it to reduce your blood pressure. Indeed, many people have found to their great frustration that slimming down failed to solve their blood pressure problems. But this is no surprise when, according to the new study, there is no link between obesity and hypertension.
On the other hand, the link between stress and high blood pressure is a strong and proven one. You are arguably more likely to suffer elevated blood pressure as a result of worries over your weight than from the weight itself. Again, the leader of the study puts it best:
Don't worry if you are overweight. What is all that stress and dieting doing to your body? Probably more damage than the extra 15 pounds.
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Finally a new study published in the International Journal of Obesity has determined the exact medical risk of obesity: zero. That's right. The large survey of nearly 20,000 people from different age groups and time periods showed no significant current health risks associated with being overweight based on medications prescribed.
In fact, a BMI (body mass index) in the obese range showed no health risks at all up to age of 40. In overweight men aged 40 to 70 there was only a slight increase in the percentage of medication used. Brant Jarrett, the lead researcher, explained:
There is a myth going on. Our findings show being overweight is no different from being what we believe is a healthy weight and this is across a person's entire lifespan
If ever there was a case of "more study is needed" this is it. Medications taken are surely a good indicator but they are not the only criteria of good health. And there is also a lot of conflicting evidence to consider.
But the study does clearly indicate that we have been far too eager to jump on the anti-fat bandwagon. In fact, it's not too much to suspect that the crusading zeal of many "health promoters" has influenced much of the negative findings and pronouncements on obesity in recent times.
So, while there may be other good reasons for losing weight, don't count on it to reduce your blood pressure. Indeed, many people have found to their great frustration that slimming down failed to solve their blood pressure problems. But this is no surprise when, according to the new study, there is no link between obesity and hypertension.
On the other hand, the link between stress and high blood pressure is a strong and proven one. You are arguably more likely to suffer elevated blood pressure as a result of worries over your weight than from the weight itself. Again, the leader of the study puts it best:
Don't worry if you are overweight. What is all that stress and dieting doing to your body? Probably more damage than the extra 15 pounds.