Beyond BMI...will being slightly overweight (according to some standards) help you live longer?

[RandomAnthony]

Slate had an interesting article this morning about controversies around the Body Mass Index (BMI) measure:

http://www.slate.com/id/2223095/?GT1=...

I lift weights and when I gain muscle the BMI means less and less because of the whole "muscle weighs more" thing.

What do you think? The study mentioned in the article about slightly overweight people living longer would be controversial, I'm sure.

[Heather]

I actually agree that slightly overweight people will likely live longer. I'm 5 ft, 1 in. tall and weigh 105 lbs. My BMI is on the low end, but I would hardly call myself healthy. I eat nothing but junk and I hate working out. If you went by my BMI alone though, it could be assumed I'm healthy. Now a friend of mine has a BMI on the higher end, but she works out 5 days a week and is careful about what she eats. She is much healthier than I am.

Weight alone is not a good measure of healthiness.

[Angie]

Body type is a HUGE factor. For a good example, Heather and I are the same height. I haven't seen 105 since high school; my good weight rests around 125-135 because I'm not a "skinny" 5'1", nor am I a "chunky" 5'1".

There's a BMI set on flickr that illustrates BMI and I find myself thinking that the people who are "overweight" are way more attractive than those who are "normal."

[Matthieu]

I'm underweight. According to the height/weight chart at the doctor's office, I should weight at least 175.

I weigh 136.

Heh.

[[deleted user]]

I'm 6'3" and weigh 250. By the BMI's rather skewed standards, I'm technically obese.

There's no way I'm obese.

The BMI has been largely discredited.

[Félix]

Largely. Good one, Gus.