Overweight German people may live longer

As most Germans are overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2, a recent study at the University of Hamburg, Germany, investigated the way boby extrafat increases the overall death rate in the German population.

Contrary to what was previously assumed, the study suggests that overweight is not increasing the overall death rate in the Germans. For coronary heart disease, overweight increases risk by about 20% and obesity increases it by about 50%. On the other hand, a larger BMI is associated with a lower risk of bone and hip fracture. In relation to cancer, the overall death rate among extremely obese men (BMI above 40) is no higher than among those of normal weight. Men who are overweight even have a 7% lower death rate. No significant association was found in women.

According to the authors’ analysis, overall mortality is unchanged by overweight, but increased by 20% by obesity, while extreme obesity raises it by up to 200%. As people grow older, obesity makes less and less difference.

Authors present these and other results in the current issue of Deutsches Ärtzeblatt International.