Bring on the ‘Santa Clauses’

Describing his study as a ‘springboard for developing new and better ways to prevent suicide’, a researcher has come out with findings that show fat men to be jolly.

Lead author Kenneth Mukamal of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston has discovered a link between men with higher body mass index (BMI), and lesser incidences of suicide.

This finding, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Mukamal attributes to higher production of insulin and hormones.

In a 16-year study that followed more than 45,000 male health professionals, Mukamal and team found a steady decrease in suicides as B.M.I increased, even after controlling for variables including smoking, dietary factors, physical activity, marital status and alcohol use.

There were 131 suicides during the time of the study.

From the study, heavier men were found to be 42 percent times less likely to commit suicide than their skinnier counterparts.

That hormones may have a role to play in mood development is a fact, which the author believes can be used to open up new avenues in the prevention and treatment of depression.

At the same time, Mukamal has cautioned that his study findings do not extend to women. Apart from differences in the way hormones play based on gender, the female sex he says, will be subjected to more anxiety with the tipping of the scales.

Mukamal also stresses that he is not recommending that people overeat to stave off depression as he notes that obesity carries numerous health risks, including diabetes and heart disease.

Source-Medindia
ANN