# Advantages of being overweight **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-being-overweight/683829 "2014-03-16T11:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-being-overweight/683829/62 "2014-03-18T14:54:41Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Being fat in a famine does nothing for your longevity - you become lunch.:eek:😃 Unless the fat guy falls on top of you. Then _you’re_ lunch! ---
**Author:** ![Nippless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/df788c/32.png) [@Nippless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nippless)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-being-overweight/683829/63 "2014-03-20T10:13:30Z")
Is this idea of fat people surviving famine better not wishful thinking? Ketosis brings about an increased turnover of electrolytes so unless the famine includes the required minerals the energy from fat isn’t going to help much…? I don’t have an online cite but I read about the electrolyte business in Volek & Phinney’s very useful book on the subject of low-carb, and have proven it in/on myself. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-being-overweight/683829/64 "2014-03-26T00:21:00Z")
One other problem I have when hugging someone who is extremely obese: They tend to overheat rather easily. Just the proximity of my body heat can make 'em sweat. (Well, there was one specific case, anyway.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advantages-of-being-overweight/683829.md?page=3)