Really good article on the New Republic: http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070910&s=campos091107
My favorite bit: ``For the most part, the so-called "overweight" BMI range doesn't even correlate with overall increased health risk. Indeed "overweight," so-called, often correlates with the lowest mortality rates. (This has led to much chin-scratching over the "paradox" of why "overweight" people often have better average life expectancy and overall health than "normal weight" people. The solution suggested by Occam's Razor--that these definitions make no sense--rarely occurs to those who puzzle over this conundrum).''
The article seems to espouse the notion that many of the health problems often associated with overweight individuals might in turn be more due to other factors, like socio-economic status, or stress, which cause harm in a more direct way. In any event, the article is skeptical of the notion that overweight == unhealthy, which I appreciate, certainly.
My favorite bit: ``For the most part, the so-called "overweight" BMI range doesn't even correlate with overall increased health risk. Indeed "overweight," so-called, often correlates with the lowest mortality rates. (This has led to much chin-scratching over the "paradox" of why "overweight" people often have better average life expectancy and overall health than "normal weight" people. The solution suggested by Occam's Razor--that these definitions make no sense--rarely occurs to those who puzzle over this conundrum).''
The article seems to espouse the notion that many of the health problems often associated with overweight individuals might in turn be more due to other factors, like socio-economic status, or stress, which cause harm in a more direct way. In any event, the article is skeptical of the notion that overweight == unhealthy, which I appreciate, certainly.
