What is it about?

The underweight have as great a mortality risk as the obese but are virtually unstudied. This paper compares health risks across the BMI spectrum.

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Why is it important?

In some countries there is a double burden of underweight and overweight. The health risks and consequences are not a continuum and BMI should not be treated as a continuous variable in statistical analyses.

Perspectives

Recent reports have begun to highlight the midlife risks of malnutrition in children. Surprisingly these children are at increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in midlife! Health risks of Body Mass Index (BMI) should be considered for both the top and bottom of the BMI range.

Professor Shona J Kelly
Sheffield Hallam University

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This page is a summary of: Are the underweight more ill than those of acceptable weight or overweight?, Proceedings of The Nutrition Society, May 2008, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s0029665108000396.
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