Which is better: to be overweight or underweight?
The way I see it, us chubby people have quite a few advantages over our too-skinny bretheren.
Because we are carrying around extra weight 24/7, we can build up muscle without exercizing. We are warmer in the winter months, and it’s harder to starve us to death. We are harder to bully: not only do we have padding, but a running tackle from one of us can do some serious damage.
Any backup or opposition?
A bit overweight would be healthier. Because the extra fat would “cushion” you in the event of illness where you couldn’t eat, and so on.
But a lot overweight would probably be less healthy than a bit underweight, because of the strain on the heart.
A lot overweight vs a lot underweight I’m not sure.
Being a healthy weight - ie in the BMI “normal” range - whether on the low-end of that range or the high-end - is best.
I’d say that in general, it’s about even. I agree an overweight person may be warmer in winter, but then there’s the hotter in summer bit. It may be more difficult to starve an overweight person, but an underweight person can pig out during the holidays and not worry about it. An overweight person may deliver a mean running tackle, but they’d have to outmaneuver the underweight person in order to do so. I realize these are all generalities.
The other part I think is about equal is the number of insults endured. I can only speak from my own experience and what I have read in threads by others, though. Here’s some of the similarities I’ve noticed between the underweight and overweight.
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It is difficult/frustrating to find clothes that fit properly.
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Complete strangers take it upon themselves to make rude comments/observations about your weight.
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Strangers also make assumptions about your eating habits:
Overweight - This person stuffs themselves upon Twinkies and all-you-can-eat buffets. They never stop eating. This person is a lazy pig that might squish you if they sat on you.
Underweight - This person never eats, and if they actually do, they vomit, use drugs, or some other unhealthy method to take the weight off. This person is a disgusting skeleton that would blow away in a stiff wind.
I’m sure there’s more, but you probably get what I am trying to convey. Like I said, this is just my own observation and experience, but why I say that one is probably not better than the other. YMMV
This really depends on the reason a person is unhealthily underweight. In many cases this may not be true, as the person suffers from anorexia, bulemia, or another eating disorder. “Worrying” about it is exactly what they do. Many ultra-thin people have psychological issues that prevent them from enjoying that huge holliday meal.
-Eonwe (who just had a friend who may/may not be suffering from an eating disorder pass out last night for no apparent reason)
I realize this, and that similar arguments can be made for the other things I stated. This is why I added, “I realize these are all generalities.” 
I’ve been on both sides of the issue - I lost 55 pounds in 9 months, and am maintaining at the low end of the BMI chart.
On being overweight - I had health problems (arthritis) and self-image problems (a lot of crying - one time in the bathroom of a Macaroni Grill!) I spent most of my life overweight, and I’m sure that the health effects are not even fully understood by me.
On being close to underweight - I still have some health problems - if I mentioned one that I am dealing with now, it would be TMI territory. Self-image is much better - it is a wonderful thrill to be able to pull any outfit out of my closet and know that it will look good. Although it is true that I definitely feel colder now.
So - health problems appear on both ends of the spectrum - but overall I’d prefer to be underweight - just for the self-esteem.
Susan
I think you hit the nail on the head with those three examples. It’s not just overweight people that get laughed at and ridiculed and they aren’t the only ones with low self esteem and low body images. I’ve been thin all my life. I’ve been asked if I’m anorexic/bulemic, I’ve been told that I need to run around in the shower to get wet, etc. I think the shitty comments that are said to me hurt my feelings just as much as the shitty comments said to overweight people. IMO… neither size is better or easier to live with.
I’ve dropped down from about 215 to 190 in the past two years (I’m 6’5").
I’m not underweight, but I definitely prefer the latter weight to the former.
[Fernando Lamas] Susan. you look marvelous! And you know, it is better to look marvelous than to feel marvelous.[/Fernando Lamas]
To quote my Mom, “You can never be too rich or too thin.”
Bill Gates and Olive Oyl notwithstanding, I tend to agree with her.
Body image is related to mental health so underweight wins hands down.
Undressed, underweight people (even those who border on the scrawny) look alot better undressed, (usually showing definition and tight skin) as opposed to overweight people with rolls, cellulite, stretch marks, flab, etc.
I’m 5’11 and a non-heroin-induced 130 pounds. Here’s how I see it:
Advantages
-can park in really tight spaces without having to exit the vehicle via sunroof
-upon waking, can easily examine self to make sure crazed doctor did not remove any ribs while asleep
-possibility of winning that elusive Dodgeball MVP award much higher
-30-hour famines much easier since unconsciousness sets in by hour nine
Disadvantages
-must employ anchors, lead weights in pockets during windy season
-head looks incredibly disproportionate compared to rest of body
-can only pick on the disabled and blind
Seriously, however, my father is about thirty to forty pounds above his ideal weight, and has been for about twenty years. He has constant back and foot problems, and my mother has to tie his shoes and put on his socks for him. Plus, he earns my fiery wrath by eating half the box of chocolates before I get a chance to have even one. These are issues (especially my fiery wrath) that I would not want to deal with.
Put me down for being underweight.
** Treviathan, ** your father eating the chocolates has nothing to do with his weight. That’s his personality. Different things entirely.