People who carry a few extra pounds after age 70 tend to live longer than people who don’t, new research finds.
Overweight older adults who took part in the Australian study had a clear survival advantage over those who were normal weight, underweight, or obese.

The findings suggest that the widely accepted body mass index (BMI) weight guidelines may not be particularly useful after age 70

BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in meters). A body mass index of 18.5-24.9 is considered normal, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.

Based on BMI scores, a 5-foot, 7-inch adult would be considered:
•    Underweight at less than 118 pounds (BMI <18.5),
•    Normal weight at 118 to 159 pounds (BMI = 18.5-24.9)
•    Overweight at 160 to 191 pounds (BMI = 25-29.9)
•    Obese at 192 pounds or more (BMI = 30+)

Obese and normal-weight study participants had a similar risk of death over the 10 years of follow-up. Underweight study participants had the highest risk of death, even after the researchers adjusted for the wasting effects of disease.

Picture: © Özgür Donmaz – iStockphoto.com

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