Diabetes Study Suggests a Little Extra Weight Tied to Longer Survival
But doctors stress that there isn't enough research yet back up that conclusion
It's also possible that underweight patients with type 2 diabetes smoke and drink more, contributing to the development of diabetes and lower weight, he added.
Another theory, researchers say, is that obese patients are more likely to be tested for diabetes, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment and improved survival.
For the study, published May 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Costanzo and his colleagues collected data on 10,568 people with diabetes who were free of heart disease.
Over roughly 11 years of follow-up, they found that obese and overweight people were more likely to develop heart disease, including often-debilitating heart failure, compared with normal-weight people.
Overweight people, however, were less likely to die, compared with obese people and normal-weight individuals, the researchers found. Among all participants, underweight people fared worst in terms of survival.
However, Mezitis said the study's findings are inconclusive because the influence of factors such as smoking and alcohol isn't fully known. Also, the researchers said they didn't have information on cause of death, fitness levels, or certain medications.
"I am wary of telling people that if you are overweight you are going to live longer, or that it doesn't matter if you are overweight," he said. "We need more studies to really understand what's going on here."
Diabetes: A Little Extra Weight, Longer Survival?
But doctors stress that there isn't enough research yet back up that conclusion
It's also possible that underweight patients with type 2 diabetes smoke and drink more, contributing to the development of diabetes and lower weight, he added.
Another theory, researchers say, is that obese patients are more likely to be tested for diabetes, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment and improved survival.
For the study, published May 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Costanzo and his colleagues collected data on 10,568 people with diabetes who were free of heart disease.
Over roughly 11 years of follow-up, they found that obese and overweight people were more likely to develop heart disease, including often-debilitating heart failure, compared with normal-weight people.
Overweight people, however, were less likely to die, compared with obese people and normal-weight individuals, the researchers found. Among all participants, underweight people fared worst in terms of survival.
However, Mezitis said the study's findings are inconclusive because the influence of factors such as smoking and alcohol isn't fully known. Also, the researchers said they didn't have information on cause of death, fitness levels, or certain medications.
"I am wary of telling people that if you are overweight you are going to live longer, or that it doesn't matter if you are overweight," he said. "We need more studies to really understand what's going on here."
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