There has been controversy recently about whether obesity is truly bad for people’s health, or in fact whether it might even protect people from early mortality. A study from the New England Journal in January provides strong evidence that obesity kills. It shows that people with very low body mass index have high mortality rates, something experts have recognized for a long time. Many people with very low BMIs are skinny because they are sick. Once you get to normal BMIs and above, however, the trend is clear. A higher BMI means a higher risk of death. Here is a figure from that article:
Remember this picture when you contemplate whether governments should make policies to combat obesity. Such policies should not be heavy-handed, and should set a balance between liberty and the promotion of people’s well-being. But in setting a balance, it is important to remember this – lives are at stake!
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