The debate over the optimal body weight rages on. Luckily,
an article in the journal
Obesity showed that
having extra pounds could help you live longer. But just how many pounds is enough?
Over two thirds of the United States population is
overweight, but being overweight doesn't necessarily mean "looking" fat. The
Body Mass Index (BMI) provides the most accurate measure of obesity in children
and adults. To be considered overweight you have to have a BMI between 25 and
29.9.
Being overweight is not the same as being obese. Obesity occurs from BMI
over 30. 100 pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese. The BMI
scale also isn't perfect; there are exceptions. For example, an athlete may
have dense muscle and a higher BMI, but not be overweight.
But what do all of these numbers really mean? To give you an idea consider the fashion world. According to the National Eating Disorders
Association
the average BMI for top models is 16.3; whereas, a healthy BMI should land you between 18.5-25. A BMI of 17.5 or below indicates a serious weight problem. You do the math. 16.3 is too skinny!
The article in
Obesity found that, overall, people who
were defined by BMI 25 to 29.9-that's slightly overweight, but not obese, lived longer than people of normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9).
"Overweight may not be the problem we thought it was," said
Dr. David H. Feeny, senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health
Research in Portland, Ore., and one of the authors of the study. "It's not
surprising that extreme underweight and extreme obesity increase the risk of
dying, but it is surprising that carrying a little extra weight may give people
a longevity advantage."
But wait! Don't toss out your steamed greens just yet. Dr. Feeny went on to explain that normal weight individuals
should not take this study as an impetus to seek a little more to grab.
"I
would not interpret our results as suggesting that if you are normal you should
gain weight and get into the overweight category," he said.
His fellow
researcher, Mark Kaplan, professor of Community Health at Portland State
University, added: "Our study only looked at mortality, not at quality of
life," and went on to say "
It may be that a few extra pounds actually protect older people as their health declines."
Being slightly overweight, in many cultures, has been a sign
of affluence. Looking at old depictions of models in art, one finds stark
contrast between Kate Moss and the Venus de Milo. Natural selection has also
favored those with heightened BMI. A little extra fat has allowed people to
survive famines, thereby living on to pass their genes to the next generation.
What's happened in our modern age where obesity now correlates more strongly to
death?
A new hypothesis suggests that in some people, fat not only
stores energy but also revs up the body's immune system.
"Fat is not simply a
collection of calories, it is acting like a part of the innate immune system,"
said Dr. Roth, an investigator at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
in Manhasset, N.Y.
Those living in the early 1800s with a heightened BMI were
probably
more likely to have survived the Bubonic plague, tuberculosis, and the Spanish flu. Nowadays, however, the evolutionary benefit of excess fat has outlived its usefulness. What's more excess fat has even been linked to diseases such as Type II Diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Says Roth, "We are paying a price for a highly activated defense system that's
now pretty obsolete."
What's important is to find a balance and to know that
skinny doesn't always equate to healthy. So how could you change your diet accordingly?
Perhaps the key is oil! Adding a spoonful of olive oil to your vegetables will
give you the added benefit of keeping your heart healthy and your fatty acids
intake up.
A recent study from researchers at the University of Athens Medical
School examined over 25,000 individuals over a decade. They found that consumption of olive oils in addition to fruits,
nuts, legumes and reduced meat consumption correlated with increased longevity.
You
always knew 
Even if you
can't live without those little orange medallions then, go ahead, and chop
them, but do it after they are cooked.
Eat your carrots whole and, just like that apple a day, you won't have to say "Eh, what's up Doc?" 
Like most stay at home moms, Christine found her hands full. Between feedings, trying to get her child to sleep, and using any spare moments to try and keep some semblance of order she began neglecting her own fitness and well being. Trouble is, caring for wee ones takes a lot of energy and moms need to make time for self care if they are to take good care of their kids. Finding the time and routine that works is a challenge. 
