Saturday, September 11, 2004
Obesity scare is junk science
Researchers for the National Center for Health Statistics say that claims that obesity kills 300,000 American a year are based on junk science. Just because someone is obese and they die doesn't mean that obesity killed them. Their study was published in the September issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
They also note that correlations between obesity and shortened lifespans break down after age 50 or so. In fact, some research suggests that extra body weight in older people provides a protective effect of extra nutritional reserves and may actually prolong life.
Ironically, the National Center for Health Statistics is a branch of the Centers for Disease Control, which employs some of the authors of various obesity scare reports.
They also note that correlations between obesity and shortened lifespans break down after age 50 or so. In fact, some research suggests that extra body weight in older people provides a protective effect of extra nutritional reserves and may actually prolong life.
Ironically, the National Center for Health Statistics is a branch of the Centers for Disease Control, which employs some of the authors of various obesity scare reports.
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