My thoughts:
First off, I hate the connection between simply having a heart beat and living a happy, fulfilled life.
Obese people tend to have more physical problems. I do not buy that someone who is heavy and as a result dealing with dietary restrictions due to diabetes, has to take a myriad of medications to deal with high blood pressure, cholesterol, and others, not to mention the pills to counteract the side effects of other pills. Plus the possibility of being in constant joint pain, and having to choose to NOT do something because they physically can't do it.
This woman that my wife works with is Type II. She ALWAYS complains that her knees are killing her. A flight of stairs taxes her. She has financial problems anyway, and drives a crap car... but is managing 13 or so prescriptions. Even if they are all covered by her insurance to some level (which I am pretty sure they are not)... she is dropping $130 to $260 a month, on just meds. That money could be MUCH better spent elsewhere.
IMO, I do not buy that more heart beats under heavy restrictions and pain is better than fewer heart beats with a less restrictive lifestyle. ESPECIALLY if you are talking about the end of life... i.e. dying at 85 vs. dying at 90.
SECOND: The one thing that I am curious about.. I tend to agree a bit with Leaf on this part... I think the connection between longevity and "heaviness" is the doctor. I would bet there is a HIGH correlation between obesity and "taking medication"... in order to take medication (especially recurring), you MUST go to your doctor. Where they run tests and monitor how things change with time.
Most of the major illnesses out there are BEST dealt with when they are found early. IF a person is healthy, with no symptoms what so ever.. how often does he/she go to the doctor? Myself, I haven't been in about 2.5 years. When I was on blood pressure meds, I was going every 3-6 months, and having a lot of my "functions" monitored (diabetes, liver, so on and so forth).
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