Being Overweight May Help Seniors Live Longer

Seniors may actually benefit from being what the World Health Organization currently classifies as overweight, according to a new study that has found that overweight people tend to live longer.

The World Health Organization (WHO) currently defines "overweight" as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or greater. Most scientific evidence indicates that people with BMIs greater than 25, especially those with a BMI of 30 or over -- classified as "obese" -- face a number of health complications because of their weight, including heart problems, joint problems, and an increased risk of diabetes.

However, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the WHO may want to rethink what is considered a healthy BMI for seniors.

The study, conducted by researchers from health science and nutritional centers based in Australia, found that people 65 and older with a BMI of about 27.5 were less likely to die in the approaching years, compared to those who were thinner.

Surprisingly, the researchers also found that seniors with a BMI of 22 to 23 -- BMIs traditionally through as very healthy -- faced a significantly higher risk of dying.

The study was a comprehensive analysis using subject data from 32 studies. A little under 198,000 individuals were included in the study, with an average follow-up of 12 years.

During the study, the BMIs, age, and date of death of these individuals were recorded and analyzed.

The resulting data indicated that risk of death in seniors increased by 12 percent when their BMI was between 21 and 22, and increased by 19 percent when their BMI was under 20.9.

Still, it should be noted that extreme obesity was found dangerous as well, with risk of death increasing by at least 8 percent for individuals who exceed a BMI of 33.

According to the researchers, they hope that their results will help seniors realize that weight control is less important in later age, and nutrition should become a priority. Making sure the elderly eat properly, they argue, should be the emphasis of physicians everywhere.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on January 22 for its April Issue.