Overweight Diabetes Patients Outlive Slimmer Counterparts, Study

According to a new medical study, type 2 diabetes patients who are overweight but not obese - were shown to outlive diabetics who are thin or of a normal weight.

The latest study adds further confusion to the 'obesity paradox' where health officials routinely warn the public about consequences of being overweight and urge people to adopt 'wellness programs' to slim down.

As per WHO estimates, the bodyweight of an individual is calculated on the basis of Body Mass Index (BMI). People who are generally overweight, register a BMI of anywhere between 25 to 29.9 whereas those with a normal weight have a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.

The latest study conducted by the UK based University of Hull says that even though obesity makes patients more prone to develop cardio vascular diseases (CVD), these very patients tend to outlive patients with a normal weight range.

For the research, scientists studied medical history of 10,000 patients with type 2 diabetes over a 11 year period. It was revealed that overweight patients had a 13 percent higher chance to outlive those with a normal weight.

Patients who are classified as thin or underweight were at an even higher risk and were shown to be three times more likely to die than those with a normal weight range.

Pierluigi Costanzo, co-author of the study said, "It's likely those diabetic patients with normal weight have a more aggressive form of type-2 diabetes compared to those who are overweight and obese."

The results of the study contradict those of another which was published in 2014 where scientists reported being overweight provided patients with no survival advantage although the BMI comparison used in the previous study were different.

Researchers are now speculating that being an overweight diabetic could possibly prevent patients from developing osteoporosis or frailty, which could otherwise lead to serious health complications in diabetic patients in the long run.