Is being "overweight" actually good for you?

Slate has an article up discussing some studies that have shown being overweight may actually be good for you! and that the harm of excess weight may be "overhyped."

Its been written if you're real fat you have a greater risk of dying from heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and some forms of cancer. But I guess the study argues that the extra weight may act as a reserve which may also help you recover faster from illnesses if not completely resist certain diseases.

It goes on to say the "upside" of being a fat ass is a much lower risk of death risk from Alzheimer's, emphysema, lung cancer, Parkinson's, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Well, all right! Pass the bacon Swiss cheeseburgers!

I suppose its possible. I do feel like avid runners are always dropping dead. You hear about that a lot. And I suppose if doctors suddenly told people being a chunk was harmless, we'd eat even more crap and stop even thinking about exercising.

With all that being said, I'm sure when these "studies" refer to "overweight" people they mean like 15-20 pounds overweight which, to the rest of the world, is your average sized human being, if not someone we may refer to as "skinny". I doubt being 5'5'' 375 is all that healthy no matter how you slice it.


fat people CPR training dolls make a great stocking stuffer!