A body of research is emerging that suggests that there’s little risk to carrying a few extra pounds. And there may even be some benefit. Indeed, people who are 10-to-15 pounds overweight appear to have no greater risk of dying than those of so-called “normal” weight. Other studies have shown that those who are overweight are no more likely to die from cancer or cardiovascular disease. Also, being a little overweight may help stave off osteoporosis. And it can make you look younger, too.
While experts agree that obesity is a serious health issue with widespread medical implications, there is a difference between carrying a bit of extra fat and being obese. “Just because someone is slightly overweight doesn’t mean they’re not healthy,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietician and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Indeed, researchers and doctors are starting to understand that eating healthy foods and getting exercise can matter more than the number that appears when you step on the scale.
And if you have just a little extra jiggle in your jeans, that fat is likely less dangerous than the kind carried by the obese. The fat sported by those slightly overweight is most often subcutaneous, meaning it is surface fat that is often carried on hips, thighs and in the gluteus region. That fat is less harmful to health than visceral fat, which is characterized as fat that attaches to organs and often causes a protruded belly. Visceral fat can increase the chances of developing heart disease and diabetes.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member