“There’s a reason for everything…”… Is this proven in diabetes?

There's a popular belief that losing too much weight as you age is not good for you. A new study suggests that even people with diabetes (type 2 diabetes) who gain a little weight after age 65 can reduce their risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and other causes.

A study analyzing 22,874 type 2 diabetes patients who participated in the UK Biobank study found that for patients over 65, a body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2) of 26-28, which is slightly higher than normal, was most effective in reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. However, for patients with diabetes under 65, maintaining a BMI of 23-25 ​​was found to minimize the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

 

Cardiovascular diseases include heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.

The results of this study are scheduled to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2024), to be held in Venice, Italy, from May 12 to 15. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies adults as underweight if their BMI is less than 18.5, normal if 18.5 to 25, overweight if 25 to 30, stage 1 obesity if 30 to 35, stage 2 obesity if 35 to 40, and stage 3 obesity if 40 or higher. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity also adheres to the WHO standards.

The research team analyzed age-related differences in BMI and cardiovascular mortality risk among type 2 diabetes patients enrolled in the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010. The average age of the participants was 59, and approximately 59% were women. The team tracked their cardiovascular health for approximately 13 years. During this period, 891 people died from various cardiovascular causes.

 

The research team analyzed data from two age groups: older adults (aged 65 and older) and middle-aged adults (aged 65 and younger) to assess the relationship between variables such as BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio and the risk of cardiovascular death. The results were adjusted for age, gender, smoking history, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, and a history of cardiovascular disease.

The study found that among middle-aged and older adults, overweight individuals had a 13% higher risk of cardiovascular death compared to those of normal weight. However, among older adults, overweight individuals actually had an 18% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to those of normal weight. This study did not prove causation, but rather observed a correlation.

 

"For older adults who are slightly overweight but not obese, maintaining their weight rather than losing it is better for lowering their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Xiaoyong Xu, the study's first author and a researcher at the Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Sciences in China. "This suggests that nutrients, such as fat, may have some protective effects against disease. The 'obesity survival paradox' in older adults may be related to nutritional reserves that reduce the risk of falls and trauma and help cope with stress."

 

Meanwhile, many studies have shown that excessive weight loss as one ages is not necessarily beneficial. A study by the Catholic University of Korea's Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital found that patients with type 2 diabetes who lose more than 10% of their body weight are at increased risk of hip fracture. A study by the Korean Society for Bone and Metabolism found that if an older person sustains a hip fracture and does not receive proper treatment, 25% of them will die within one year and 70% within two years. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity emphasizes the importance of maintaining a normal BMI. There is also controversy surrounding the effectiveness of BMI.

 

 

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There is a joke that says, “When you lose too much weight as you get older, you look like you don’t exist.”

Diabetic patients over 65 years of age should also gain some weight.

A study found that the risk of dying from various cardiovascular diseases was the lowest.

 

Is it too much to say?

My mom is very thin, and I always worry about her.