Is Being Underweight as Bad for Your Health as Being Obese? Evidence from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Abstract

Background: Although there are indications that being underweight can compromise health status, most studies examine the health effects of obesity. A clearer understanding of the differential health effects of being underweight or obese could provide avenues for targeted, effective interventions. Method: To address the study questions, we analyzed data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We defined the following body weight groups: BMI ≤ 18.5 as underweight; healthy body weight as18.5 ≤ BMI < 25; overweight as 25 < BMI < 30; Class1 obese as 30 ≤ BMI < 35; Class2 obese as 35 ≤ BMI< 40; and Class3 obese as 40 ≤ BMI. We conduct χ2 -and t-tests of health status differences across these body weight classes. Applying a health production framework from health economics we conducted a multivariate analysis to examine the effects of body-weight classes on the likelihood of self-assessed good health status. Results: Relative to individuals with healthy body weights, those who were underweight had poorer health, higher probability of poor health and prevalence of diagnosed chronic health conditions. We found significant (p < 0.000) differences in health status, across the four bodyweight classes (underweight, obese classes 1-3). Being underweight has similar negative health effects as being obese.

Drawings or 3D models: Do illustration methods matter when assessing perceived body size and body dissatisfaction?

“…Outlier BMI analyses were conducted to reveal extreme BMI values. Even though severe over- or underweight body types might be indicative of underlying health issues [ 33 ], the researchers decided to include these participants within the study because these values are biologically plausible, and the figure rating scales aim to assess both under- and overweight body types. As a precaution, the participants with extremely low BMI values were temporarily removed to conduct all analyses.…”