Danish Study Finds Overweight May Not Shorten Lifespan, While Low BMI Increases Risk

A large Danish study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting suggests that being slightly overweight—or even mildly obese—may not reduce life expectancy. Researchers analyzed health data from 85,761 adults, with a median age of 66, to assess the link between BMI and mortality.

During five years of follow-up, 8% of participants died. Results showed that individuals who were underweight faced nearly triple the risk of death compared to those with a BMI of 22.5–<25.0, the upper end of the normal range. Surprisingly, participants with BMIs in the overweight category (25–<30) and even mild obesity (30–<35) had no greater mortality risk than the reference group. However, severe obesity (≥40) more than doubled the risk of death.

Researchers noted that factors such as fat distribution and underlying illness may explain the findings, emphasizing that BMI alone does not fully capture health risks.

21-09-2025