Middle-age spread 'happens twice'

Impressively stupid news. Time to study the relationship between bad dentition and brain damage.

From the BBC:

"Researchers have found middle-age spread occurs in two distinct phases - casting doubt on the merits of using weight as a guide to health.

They found a thickening waistline in early middle age is accompanied by a rise in weight.

But although waists continue to expand with age, weight gain levelled off in later years as muscle turned to fat."

Welcome to the world of alchemy, where lead turns into gold and muscle turns into fat.

As far as we know, both are impossible.

Except in the world of the experts.

“Those in the older age group gained least weight in the second half of the study. Although their overall weight may not have changed, however, their waist circumference did.”

We need to study this further by determining the slouch-to-waist circumference ratio since people's posture seems to worsen over time (though it is possible to get fatter and weigh less).

Still, the BMI remains a remarkably useful tool when applied properly. One's waist circumference is of significantly lesser personal benefit.

"The MRC study is the second in quick succession to question the use of BMI.

A University of Texas study found measuring the difference between the waist and hips was a more accurate way to identify people with the early signs of heart disease."

This only shows that the experts do not know how to use the BMI properly. Again.

Maybe lightning struck twice and next time they will get it right. After all, the third time is a charm, right?

Probably not since experts are involved.