Could it be that excess fat is not, by itself, a serious health risk for the vast majority of people who are overweight or obese--categories that in the U.S. include about six of every 10 adults? Is it possible that urging the overweight or mildly obese to cut calories and lose weight may actually do more harm than good?

Such notions defy conventional wisdom that excess adiposity kills more than 300,000 Americans a year and that the gradual fattening of nations since the 1980s presages coming epidemics of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and a host of other medical consequences. Indeed, just this past March the New England Journal of Medicine presented a "Special Report," by S. Jay Olshansky, David B. Allison and others that seemed to confirm such fears. The authors asserted that because of the obesity epidemic, "the steady rise in life expectancy during the past two centuries may soon come to an end." Articles about the special report by the New York Times, the Washington Post and many other news outlets emphasized its forecast that obesity may shave up to five years off average life spans in coming decades.

3 Comments

1. 1. poosta7 11:41 AM 5/26/10

   Whaaaaaaaaat ?? "Could it be that excess fat is not, by itself, a serious health risk for the vast majority of people who are overweight or obese" You just published an article that demonstrated being fat, by itself, causes insulin resistance which leads to type II diabetes, the number 5 cause of death in the U.S. and a direct cause of CHD, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. Further that weight loss resulting from stomach banding will "cure" diabetes with no other interventions. Ergo, fat is a cause, not a symptom of insulin resistance. I believe any doctor who would recommend to a prediabetic obese patient that losing weight will not improve their condition should be sued for medical malpractice.

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2. 2. pradhangeorge 06:24 AM 9/30/10

   If we look at the health issues in a broad integrated perception, we the simple old family doctors, checked from head to foot , all systems,each new person we saw for whatever complaint,..have tests, investigations, checks,and arrived at a provisional diagnosis.and subsequent visits take just a few minutes cos we know the body.only 10% need referal to a senior.After rotating internship of 12 months, any MD CAN take up any case.and go for more special training according to his likeing.Obesity is caused by more intake of energy food, cos of more affluence vanity and show.and less energy usage cos of factors we all observe.So back to basic Home MD, general practice, will take care of all illnesses.I am an MBBS 1950 india ECFMG 1973,Vietnam, Zambia, country doctor,lamplight obst, and so on.

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3. 3. ManiN 01:11 PM 5/15/12

   The reason for obesity is not fat or carbs, it is due to the bad eating habits that are hard to get rid of. There are so many healthy foods that are available in the local supermarket, people need to be educated on what is really good for them. The whole concept of meat, cheese and bread dominating the plate has to change. You have to go back to eating unprocessed, fresh foods. Our website, www.adailyapple.com brings you information on over 300 healthy foods that you can eat. It also provides nutritional facts and info about the origins of foods that educate people about food.

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