Weight is a universal issue and a topic that is discussed constantly.
Usually the health risks of being overweight are put on the spot and while we know that obesity puts you at a higher risk of dying, studies are showing that being underweight is just as bad.
Fox News has reported that in a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health, researchers performed an analysis of 51 studies examining the link between body mass index and death from any cause.
Each study was reportedly required to have lasted for at least five years in order to account for those who were temporarily underweight due to malnourishment, substance abuse, smoking, low-income status, mental health or poor self-care.
Results showed that those who are underweight with a BMI of 18.5 or less had a 1.8 times higher risk of dying compared to those with a normal BMI range of up to 24.9.
Surprisingly, people who were obese had a 1.2 times higher risk of dying compared to people at a normal weight.
Between the choices of being underweight V.S. overweight, underweight always seemed like the better option, mostly due to the pressures of society.
Study author Dr. Joel Ray stated, "Society is appropriately very obesity-focused and concerned with how it impacts disease and death. In the process of focusing on obesity, we neglected the aspect of the underweight population among us."
The battle between underweight V.S. overweight is also putting those at a healthy weight at risk as well.
Ray stated, "We have an obligation to ensure that we avoid creating an epidemic of underweight adults and fetuses who are otherwise at the correct weight."
He continued that despite these discussions of underweight V.S. overweight and which is actually better, it's crucial for people to maintain a healthy body size.
Dr. Joel Ray continued, "BMI reflects not only body fat, but also muscle mass. If we want to continue to use BMI in health care and public health initiatives, we must realize that a robust and healthy individual is someone who has a reasonable amount of body fat and also sufficient bone and muscle."
Ray stated, "If our focus is more on the ills of excess body fat, then we need to replace BMI with a proper measure, like waist circumference."
