Its common knowledge that individuals can start healthy eating habits such as an alkaline diet in order to keep weight down. However, a new study is suggesting that overweight individuals over the age of 70 may actually have a longer life span.
According to research published in The Journal of The American Geriatrics Society, elderly patients who were overweight were less likely to die over a 10 year period than individuals who are a normal weight.
The study followed 4,677 men and 4,563 women who were between the ages of 70 and 75 for 10 years or until their death, whichever came first. Researchers were surprised to find that patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) were 13 percent more likely to die during the time period than those who weighed a normal amount.
Researchers feel the reason for these findings is that older adults have a different set of health risk factors than younger individuals, who may be more affected by obesity.
“Our study suggests that those people who survive to age 70 in reasonable health have a different set of risks and benefits associated with the amount of body fat to younger people, and these should be reflected in BMI guidelines,” said lead researcher Leon Flicker.