How Dangerous Is Being Fat? New Data On The Meaning Of Body Mass Index

How Dangerous Is Being Fat? New Data On The Meaning Of Body Mass Index toggle caption iStockphoto.com If your body mass index is between 20 and 24.9, you're golden. You won't live forever, but your chances of living longer than those with other BMI values are statistically better, according to an analysis of 1.46 million adults in this week's New England Journal of Medicine. Sponsor Message "There was debate over whether having a BMI in the overweight range is associated with an increased risk of death," study author Amy Berrington de Gonzalez of the National Cancer Institute told Shots. The study finds that obese people -- those with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 -- have a 44 percent higher risk of death from any cause compared with those in the most-favorable range.