X-Message-Number: 27627
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 23:54:05 -0700
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: Morbidity Estimates and Calorie Restriction
References: <>

Buried in Doug Skrecky's interesting posting, "Prognostic Index for 4-year 
Mortality" (#27622), we read:

>body mass index <25,
>1 point),

As it happens, my yesterday's newspaper had an article based on this very 
work, in which you could estimate your own chances of living for 5 or more 
years. (The article was "Quiz can help give clues to mortality" by Lindsay 
Tanner, AP.) To compute the body mass index (BMI), you use the formula 
703w/h^2, where w=your weight in pounds and h=your height in inches. "The 
1-point penalty for having a body-mass index under 25 (normal body weight 
or less) is based on findings that being underweight is a health risk for 
elderly people." The article states also that there was no similar penalty 
for being overweight because bad effects associated with obesity, such as 
diabetes, were included under other headings. Anyway, I bring this up 
because I come out as underweight by this criterion (height 71", weight 
about 130 lbs, BMI about 18), which effect is enhanced by the calorie 
restriction I have been practicing for over 7 years now. I'm wondering if 
CR, even with adequate nutrition, has been overrated or actually 
misrepresented as a life-extender in humans, notwithstanding its positive 
effects in shorter-lived creatures such as mice.

Mike Perry

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