Overweight diabetics live longer than slimmer ones

Being a bit on the heavier side may not be that bad for diabetics as researchers have found that patients with Type-2 diabetes who are overweight but not obese live longer than those who are underweight or normal-weight.

Researchers call this effect the "obesity paradox" as higher body mass index (BMI) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and Type-2 diabetes.

For the study, the researchers followed more than 10,500 patients with Type-2 diabetes for a median of 10.6 years.

The overweight and obese patients had an increased risk for cardiovascular events, but those who were overweight had better survival rates compared to those who were underweight or normal-weight.

According to the researchers, one possible reason for the obesity paradox could be that Type 2 diabetes induced by the metabolic stress of obesity may fundamentally differ from that which develops in the absence of obesity.

Second, patients with Type-2 diabetes and a low BMI might have higher tobacco and alcohol consumption, contributing to both the development of diabetes and a lower BMI.

Finally, obese patients may be more likely to be checked for diabetes, leading to earlier diagnosis. The study was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.