Body fat has health benefits

[sarahmichigan]

http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v21/n9/pdf/0800473a.pdf

Being heavier and having extra fat (NOT just extra muscle) seems to be protective against osteoporosis. The extra padding from extra fat also lessens the likelihood of hip fractures in the elderly, and hip fractures are known to be highly associated with poor health and mortality outcomes for seniors.

Comments

A data point

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention this today. I had a 85 year old female client yesterday who had fallen on the ice two days before. She fell on her hip but only had a small bruise. I told her the same thing as what you said above - the extra weight she carries helped both cushion her fall as well as give her stronger bones. ;)