BMI - The Game (Photo credit: Kecko) |
A new study suggests that current body mass index (BMI) recommendations may be unsuitable for older adults.
Caryl Nowson, a professor of nutrition and aging at Deakin
University, led a research team that examined the relationship between
BMI and risk of death in people 65 and older. The findings indicated the
lowest risk was among those with a BMI of about 27.5, which is
considered overweight by the World Health Organization. Mortality was
said to increase "significantly" among those with a BMI between 22 and
23, the normal weight range.
"It is time to reassess the healthy weight guidelines for older
people," Professor Nowson said. "Our results showed that those over the
age of 65 with a BMI of between 23 and 33 lived longer, indicating that
the ideal body weight for older people is significantly higher than the
recommended 18.5-25 'normal' healthy weight range."