# If people in the 25-30 BMI range have the lowest mortality, why is 25-30 BMI considered overweight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146 "2015-02-20T00:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146/1 "2015-02-20T00:32:21Z")
I think I’ve read an explanation for this before, but I can’t remember it and can’t seem to find it. It seems that being [slightly overweight is good for your lifespan](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23280227). So why is this part of the weight range classified as “overweight.” That implies a problem, which doesn’t seem to manifest. Why not change the classifications? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146/2 "2015-02-20T00:46:20Z")
All I know is that according to the BMI chart, I need to grow half a foot. ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146/3 "2015-02-20T00:47:59Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I think I’ve read an explanation for this before, but I can’t remember it and can’t seem to find it. > > It seems that being [slightly overweight is good for your lifespan](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23280227). So why is this part of the weight range classified as “overweight.” That implies a problem, which doesn’t seem to manifest. > > Why not change the classifications? I didn’t know this. As one who is stuck on 26, I’m happy to hear it and looking forward to pointing it out to my doctor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146/4 "2015-02-20T00:49:06Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > All I know is that according to the BMI chart, I need to grow half a foot. Something wrong with the two you have? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146/5 "2015-02-20T00:49:34Z")
Guess: Because the average BMI category includes people who have lost weight because they’re sick. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-people-in-the-25-30-bmi-range-have-the-lowest-mortality-why-is-25-30-bmi-considered-overweight/713146/6 "2015-02-20T02:52:50Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Guess: Because the average BMI category includes people who have lost weight because they’re sick. We’ve done this many times and each time the doc’s tell us it’s pretty much this. Many people in their last months of life are pretty scrawny due to disease; they skew the survival statistics down for thin people and make the mildly overweight people’s survival rates look better.