Contradictions!

An article in the Melbourne Sun-Herald on May 20th was headed: Fat Patients Thrive

Gosh - I had to read that one. Most news items in the newspapers, magazines and television current affairs all deal with the fact that being "fat" is a bad thing. Here's one that goes against conventional advice.

I'll quote the article:

"Overweight heart attack victims should stay fat as they are more likely to live longer, say researchers. The controversial claim goes against conventional advice to patients that they should lose weight.

Evidence from a review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests being fat can be useful for heart patients.

"Obese patients with heart disease respond well to treatment and have paradoxically better outcomes and survival than thinner patients," said author Dr Carl Lavie, medical director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at the Ochsner Medical Centre.

Dr Lavie said it was possible extra weight might help because patients had more reserves to fight disease."

.....© 20/5/2009, Melbourne Sun-Herald.