It is another example of the ‘Obesity Paradox’, meaning that the more obese you are, the longer you live. (image: KobIz Media / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – After analyzing cerebral infarction patients according to their body mass index (BMI), those who were overweight showed lighter symptoms and better recuperation. It is another example of the ‘Obesity Paradox’, meaning that the more obese you are, the longer you live.
Professor Lee Seung-hun from the Department of Neurology at Seoul National University Hospital analyzed data from 2,670 cerebral infarction patients that were hospitalized from October 2002 to May 2013. The results showed that the probability of the most obese patient suffering from a severe stroke was only one third of the probability of the least obese patient.
Professor Lee divided the BMI scale into five groups instead of the three groups usually referred to by the WHO. Setting the occurrence rate of severe cerebral infarction in the least obese group as the criterion (100 percent), the results showed that as the BMI level went up, the occurrence rate of severe cerebral infarction decreased to 65 percent, 48 percent, 39 percent and 31 percent.
In addition, the occurrence of stress disorders among obese patients three months after the illness was lower than the occurrence of similar disorders in thin patients.
Recently, the ‘Obesity Paradox’ is being reported from many diseases, but the mechanism is not yet clear, making it difficult to conclude that ‘one lives longer when he/she is fat’.
The research team explained the importance of the study. “This could be the first research that casts light on the fact that BMI can influence the severity of strokes. The results could be used to influence survival rates.”
The results of the study were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, an international journal based in England.
By Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
