Minoriteeburg
02-03-2006, 17:45
'Spare Tire' Might Protect Men During Car Accident
03.01.06, 12:00 AM ET
WEDNESDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that a few extra pounds can be good for you -- if you're male and unlucky enough to be in a car accident, that is.
Moderately overweight males are more likely to survive serious car accidents than either the thin or the very fat. Apparently, a bit of extra padding -- but not too much -- provides extra protection, according to the study.
The research suggests that there's "a threshold, a cut-off point," where overweight suddenly becomes dangerous instead of protective, noted study lead author Dr. Shankuan Zhu, an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
For reasons that aren't clear, women don't get the same protection from extra weight: Being fat, thin or in-between didn't affect their likelihood of dying in a car accident, the study found.
Researchers have made similar links between weight and car accident fatality rates in the past, but the new study is the first to take a significant look at gender differences.
The researchers examined reports of 22,107 accidents in the United States involving drivers aged 16 and older from 1997 to 2001. The study findings appeared online Wednesday and will be published in the April edition of the American Journal of Public Health.
Overall, males were about twice as likely to die as females -- 0.87 percent of them died in the accidents, compared to 0.43 percent of females.
The researchers then looked at the connection between death rates and the body mass indexes (BMI) of the accident victims. BMI measures whether a person's height and weight are proportionate, with a BMI of 30 being the statistical threshold for obesity.
Fatalities among males became increasingly likely as their body mass indexes dipped below 22 (meaning they're on the thin side) or above 35 (meaning they're obese).
The results suggest that a moderate layer of fat -- such as that found in overweight but not obese people -- provides a "cushioning" effect during a crash, Zhu said.
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2006/03/01/hscout531304.html
So guys and gals, keep those beer bellies a flowing. And keep the beer coming! BTW could anyone use a beer right about now I sure could.
03.01.06, 12:00 AM ET
WEDNESDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that a few extra pounds can be good for you -- if you're male and unlucky enough to be in a car accident, that is.
Moderately overweight males are more likely to survive serious car accidents than either the thin or the very fat. Apparently, a bit of extra padding -- but not too much -- provides extra protection, according to the study.
The research suggests that there's "a threshold, a cut-off point," where overweight suddenly becomes dangerous instead of protective, noted study lead author Dr. Shankuan Zhu, an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
For reasons that aren't clear, women don't get the same protection from extra weight: Being fat, thin or in-between didn't affect their likelihood of dying in a car accident, the study found.
Researchers have made similar links between weight and car accident fatality rates in the past, but the new study is the first to take a significant look at gender differences.
The researchers examined reports of 22,107 accidents in the United States involving drivers aged 16 and older from 1997 to 2001. The study findings appeared online Wednesday and will be published in the April edition of the American Journal of Public Health.
Overall, males were about twice as likely to die as females -- 0.87 percent of them died in the accidents, compared to 0.43 percent of females.
The researchers then looked at the connection between death rates and the body mass indexes (BMI) of the accident victims. BMI measures whether a person's height and weight are proportionate, with a BMI of 30 being the statistical threshold for obesity.
Fatalities among males became increasingly likely as their body mass indexes dipped below 22 (meaning they're on the thin side) or above 35 (meaning they're obese).
The results suggest that a moderate layer of fat -- such as that found in overweight but not obese people -- provides a "cushioning" effect during a crash, Zhu said.
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2006/03/01/hscout531304.html
So guys and gals, keep those beer bellies a flowing. And keep the beer coming! BTW could anyone use a beer right about now I sure could.