Friday May 27th, 2011 - More Fat Means Less Life

Research from The National Institutes of Health published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reports that your risk of premature death increases 31% with every five-point increase in the body-mass index (BMI).

In real terms this means that...

• A BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 increased death risk by 13%
• A BMI of 30.0 to 34.9 increased death risk by 44%
• A BMI of 35.0 to 39.9 increased death risk by 88%
• A BMI of 40.0 to 49.9 increased death risk by 251%

To calculate your BMI go to http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

The following conditions significantly increase your risk:

• Fatty liver 
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
• Low HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
• High triglycerides
• High blood glucose (sugar) Diabetes
• Family history of premature heart disease
• Physical inactivity
• Cigarette smoking

And, of course, cirrhosis of the liver can be lethal. Actually, it is. So I need a transplant asap.