Weigh Less at 18 and Midlife, Live Better After 70

With more people living longer and the prevalence of obesity on the rise, understanding the relation between healthy longevity and body weight is becoming more important. In a subanalysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study, researchers evaluated self-reported weight at age 18 and midlife in relation to health status, physical limitations, and cognitive status among participants who survived until at least age 70. Women defined as healthy survivors had none of several conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis) and had no major impairments in cognitive or physical function or mental health. Those defined as usual survivors did not meet …