Calorie restriction does not seem to lengthen lifespan in primates

http://www.nature.com/news/calorie-restriction-falters-in-the-long-run-1.11297

by ananyob • 14 years ago

11 2 14 years ago

nacker• 14 years ago

Well, I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. From this article linked in the original:

"Nir Barzilai, a gerontologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, says that the centenarians he studies have led him to believe that genetics is more important than diet and lifestyle. “They’re a chubby bunch,” he says." http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nrg3290

Yet that paper concludes:

"Conclusions: In white adults, overweight and obesity (and possibly underweight) are associated with increased all-cause mortality. All-cause mortality is generally lowest with a BMI of 20.0 to 24.9." "

http://www.nature.com/news/calorie-restriction-falters-in-th...

BMI of 20.0 to 24.9 is pretty far from "chubby".

I have become more and more skeptical of "scientific studies" as a guide to life choices in general. Scientists are frequently partial, mistaken and downright foolish in hindsight.

Scientism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientism) is the predominant 20th century religion, and while it is far better than the old religions, it is also far from perfect.

But let those who wish to follow scientific blessing now cease to restrict their calories, it's their funeral:

HBO: The Weight of the Nation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pEkCbqN4uo

ananyob• 14 years ago

To be fair, the paper and the news piece is talking about extreme caloric restriction (which some folk practice in the hope of living much longer). It's not talking about watching your weight - which nobody disputes is a good thing. Nor does it say being obese is healthy - far from it as the quotes you have show.

Calorie restriction does not seem to lengthen lifespan in primates

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