Ask Doctor K: Overweight, obese terms compared

DEAR DOCTOR K: Is it possible to be obese and healthy at the same time?

DEAR READER: In my opinion, an important part of living is taking account of the odds. You may weigh the odds and decide that you want to do something risky anyway. But don’t do it because you assume that an exception will be made in your case.

You are at risk for many serious deseases from being obese. They include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, impaired sleep and arthritis.

A good measure of healthy weight is the body mass index (BMI), which adjusts weight based on height:

– Normal weight is a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

– Overweight is a BMI between 25 and 29.

– Obesity is a BMI of 30 or greater.

Two recent studies show the importance of making a distinction between overweight and obese people.

The first study analyzed data from nearly 100 studies and included almost 3 million people. It found that people who were overweight were 6 percent less likely to die during the average study period than people whose weight was considered normal. In contrast, people who were obese definitely died earlier.

The second study combined data from prior research that included more than 60,000 people. This study also did not find higher rates of death or heart and blood vessel events among people who were overweight – as long as their “metabolic numbers” (cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels) were in a healthy range. In contrast, obese individuals were at increased risk, even when their metabolic numbers were in a healthy range.

Avoiding obesity is important. But these studies suggest that it is possible to have a normal lifespan even if you’re overweight.

There are obese individuals who live a normal lifespan, free of the many diseases linked to obesity.

But if you agree with me that living involves taking account of the odds, you should do what you can to avoid obesity.