The Obesity Paradox: higher BMI may not always be bad
Research suggests that while being underweight and highly obese are both associated with increased mortality relative to the normal weight category, being overweight is not associated with excess mortality. Moreover, people with obesity who have preserved fitness and have no notable metabolic abnormalities have a very favourable prognosis; suggesting that improving fitness rather than weight loss per se should be emphasised in patients with overweight and class I obesity (BMI 30–35 kg/m2).