Extreme Obesity Carries Ever-Rising Health Risks

By Geoff Michaels, June 7th, 2013 | Health | 0 Comments

When the fat get even fatter, their risk of death jumps, especially if they have an apple-shaped waistline, according to a study of 90,000 American women.

The study is among the first to look closely at the once-rare category of extreme obesity, defined as being at least 90 pounds overweight.

A University of Pittsburgh researcher said the study finds that losing even 20 pounds - as opposed to a radical slimming down - can help improve the health of an obese person. The study also points out that apple-shaped women have higher health risks than pear-shaped women, even at the same weight.

Abdominal fat long has been associated with heart disease, but the study finds that apple-shaped types “need to be more careful” about body weight than other people.