Fat loss decreases the risk of dying 3 to 17 percent, whereas weight loss increases the risk of dying 2 to 6 percent according to a 1998 study from researchers at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital at Columbia University in New York.

An overweight adult who avoids gaining 20-30 lbs increases their life expectancy by about 2 years according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

An normal weight adult who avoids gaining 40-60 lbs increases their life expectancy by about 3 years according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

Being morbidly obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40-50 is estimated to reduce lifespan by 8-10 years during the 10-15 years of follow-up when compared to those with a BMI of 22.5 to 25 according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

Being moderately obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 to 35 is estimated to reduce lifespan by 2 to 4 years during the 10-15 years of follow-up when compared to those with a BMI of 22.5 to 25 according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

Being 25-35 pounds overweight, that is, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27.5 to 30, is estimated to reduce lifespan by 1-2 years when compared to those with a BMI of 22.5 to 25, which had the lowest risk of death during the 10-15 years of follow-up according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

Being 15-20 pounds overweight by the age of 60, that is, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 27.5, is estimated to reduce lifespan by one year or less when compared to those with a BMI of 22.5 to 25, which had the lowest risk of death during the 10-15 years of follow-up according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

For roughly every 30-35 pounds of excess body weight a person carries over and above having a BMI of 25, their risk of death over the next 10-15 years increases by roughly 30%. This according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 22.5 to 25 have the lowest risk of dying according to a study by Epidemiologist Dr. Gary Whitlock of Oxford University published on-line in The Lancet on March 18, 2009.

Women who smoked and were underweight with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5, were 9.4 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Women who smoked and were normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 23.5-25 were 5.4 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Women who smoked and were overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30 were 5.1 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Women who smoked and were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 35 were 5.9 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Women who smoked and were severely obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, were 6.6 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Men who normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) of 23.5 to 25 and who quit smoking at least 10 years earlier were 2.2 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Similar men who had quit smoking less than 10 years earlier were 4.1 times more likely to die during follow-up.

Women who normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) of 23.5 to 25 and who quit smoking at least 10 years earlier were 1.9 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Similar women who had quit smoking less than 10 years earlier were 2.9 times more likely to die during follow-up.

Men who were normal weight, that is had a body mass index (BMI) of 23.5 to 25, but who were current smokers, were 6.2 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight men who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Men who were underweight with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 and who were current smokers, were 8.4 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight men who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Men who were current smokers and severely obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, were 8.1 times more likely to die during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight men who had never smoked according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Men who had never smoked, but were overweight, that is had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30, were 11 percent more likely to die—1.11 times more likely—during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight men who had never smoked with a BMI of 23.5 to 25 according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

To put this another way, men who were normal weight with a BMI of 23.5 to 25, were 10 percent less likely to die than men who were overweight.

To me, this study provides additional evidence that there was a problem with the study done a couple years ago done by the US Centers for Disease Control which estimated that the obesity is associated with much fewer deaths in the US than previously estimated (111,000 versus 400,000).

It seemed obvious to me that the Flegal study was wrong when one of the tables in the paper showed that by their calculations that overweight people were less likely to die than normal weight people. To me, this was a big, huge red flag saying “Something is wrong with this study by Flegal (2005)!”.

Men who had never smoked, but were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 35 were 41 percent more likely to die—1.41 times more likely—during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight men who had never smoked with a BMI of 23.5 to 25 according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

To put this another way, men who were normal weight with a BMI of 23.5 to 25, were 29 percent less likely to die than men who were obese with a BMI of 30-35.

Men who had never smoked, but were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more were 144 percent more likely to die—2.44 times more likely—during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight men who had never smoked with a BMI of 23.5 to 25 according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

To put this another way, men who were normal weight with a BMI of 23.5 to 25, were 59 percent less likely to die than men who were obese with a BMI of 30-35.

Women who who had never smoked, but were overweight, that is had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30, were 14 percent more likely to die—1.14 times more likely—during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked with a BMI of 23.5 to 25 according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

To put this another way, women who were normal weight with a BMI of 23.5 to 25, were 10 percent less likely to die than women who were overweight.

Women who had never smoked, but were obese with a BMI of 30- to 35, were 33 percent more likely to die—1.33 times more likely—during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked with a BMI of 23.5 to 25 according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

To put this another way, women who were normal weight with a BMI of 23.5 to 25, were 25 percent less likely to die than women who were overweight.

Women who had never smoked, but were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more were 118 percent more likely to die—2.2 times more likely—during a 10-year follow-up than normal weight women who had never smoked with a BMI of 23.5 to 25 according to a new study from the US’s National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

To put this another way, women who were normal weight with a BMI of 23.5 to 25, were 54 percent less likely to die than women who were obese with a BMI of 30-35.