Risks remain for those who are overweight
November 14th, 2007 by ALVIN SOONG
I REFER to the report, ‘Being fat may not be all bad, says new study’ (ST, Nov 
.
The American study addressed the ‘overweight’, those having a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 30 and not the obese (BMI >30). Also, the conclusion of the study suggests that being overweight does carry risks but the dangers may be less dire than experts believed. However, specifically, the study does not dispute the fact that obesity raises the risk of death from heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and several cancers, including breast, colon and pancreatic cancer.
Separately, the third phase of the latest European heart survey revealed that uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes are on the rise in eight key European countries, even among patients with diagnosed coronary heart disease. And this is so despite a greater uptake of cardio-protective medication among these patients.
At the same time, the prevalence of obesity has risen to 38 per cent from the initial 25 per cent. The potential benefits of drug therapy seem to have been offset by weight gain. Self-reported diabetes rose to 28 per cent from 17.4 per cent and a further 15 per cent were found to have undetected diabetes. What is clear from this European survey is that there is an incorrect belief that drugs alone can reduce risks without the need to modify a detrimental lifestyle and, certainly, a detrimental lifestyle includes smoking, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and obesity.
Lest the American study addressing the overweight gives the false impression that being fat may not be so bad, we need to pause and take a closer look at the overall picture and the established conclusions thus far.
Dr Quek Koh Choon OBESITY DANGERThe US study doesn’t dispute the fact that obesity raises the risk of death.
