Obesity is Bad, Right? Well, Except When It’s Good.

We all know that obese people have worse outcomes than thinner people in nearly every possible health condition: stroke, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even breast and colon cancers. But there is one specific type of cancer where obese people actually have a lower death rate than folks carrying a normal body weight.

Researchers just found that when it comes to surviving diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is an especially aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, obese people have a lower risk of dying than normal-weight people.

The study followed 2,500 veterans who had DLBCL for five years. 64 percent of men who were normal weight when diagnosed died within five years. Only 47 percent of obese men died during the same period. Even men who overweight but not technically obese had a better prognosis than their thinner brothers.

Now, before you rush out and start eating up a storm, you need to keep in mind that that obese people have a higher risk of developing DLBCL in the first place.

According to the American Cancer Society,  about 70,000 Americans will develop some type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2012. DLBCL is the most common—and perhaps the deadliest—form.

You can read more about this study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, here.

Amy Gendron, A.P

View posts by Amy Gendron, A.P
Amy is an Acupuncture Physician in the state of Florida where she works in an integrative medicine practice. She has studied abroad in Yunnan China under some of the nations top doctors. In addition she has extensive training in Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture, Reiki, personal training and as a labor and delivery doula. Her experience as a NCAA Champion in field hockey influences how she approaches her personal and professional life- Go big or go home!

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