The experts can't seem to agree with each other on why (or even whether) fat people have better bone health than thin people. Of those who believe that fat people do, indeed, have better bone health than thin people, many different theories have been proposed to explain this difference in bone health. For example, some experts, including Thijs R. Klompmaker of the Netherlands, better known by his Japanese-sounding internet name, "Wai Genriiu," believe that fat people have better bone health than thin people because they tend to have elevated levels of the hormone, leptin. The weakness in the leptin theory is that most research studies were unable to correlate blood leptin levels with bone mineral density. Other experts believe that the only reason fat people have better bone health than thin people is that fat people get more weight-bearing exercise (equivalent to always wearing a weighted vest everywhere a person goes). The weakness in the weighted vest theory is that although moderately fat people have better bone health than thin people in many research studies, virtually all research studies agree that very fat people do not have any better bone health than moderately fat people. (If the weighted vest theory was correct, then very fat people should have better bone health than moderately fat people). I personally agree with the third explanation, namely, that thin people have worse bone health than moderately fat people because thin people are more likely to be undernourished, especially with respect to calcium and protein. Moderately fat people are more likely to be adequately nourished, especially with respect to calcium and protein. Very fat people are more likely to be overnourished, especially with respect to calcium and animal-source protein. (Thus, very fat people should be very grateful if their bone health isn't any worse than that of moderately fat people). In the following research study done among undernourished populations in India and Iran, note that the soy eaters (OR=0.3) and the tea drinkers (OR=0.3) had the best bone health, while the undernourished "vegetarians" (OR=2.2) had even worse bone health than the excessive meat eaters (OR=1.4): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18304358 (Undernourished vegetarians tend to be deficient in both calcium and protein because they don't eat enough vegetables and fruits. They eat mostly just grains and not much of anything else). Note also that in this study, those who swallowed a daily calcium pill (OR=0.6) greatly improved their bone health. Note also that those who ate protein-containing foods (OR=0.4 to 0.6) greatly improved their bone health. (Thus, undernourished people should be advised to increase their intake of calcium and protein, while well-nourished people should be advised to do just the opposite, namely, to minimize their consumption of animal-source protein and to minimize their consumption of calcium from dairy foods). Note also that those who continually exercised (OR=0.4) had almost as good bone health as those who ate soy (OR=0.3) and those who drank tea (OR=0.3). In conclusion, this study among undernourished populations in India and Iran helps us to understand why thin people, because they tend to be undernourished, especially with respect to calcium and protein, have worse bone health than moderately fat people, who tend to be adequately well-nourished, especially with respect to calcium and protein. For those of you who wish to pursue this VERY BORING subject even further, the following 15 PubMed studies all say that we are making a big deal over nothing. They say that the supposed bone-health benefit that fat people enjoy over thin people is slim to none, and slim just left town: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19401374 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17047019 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17299077 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18445881 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17712115 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17053871 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19488588 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15777684 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10589857 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11074952 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10775737 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14757268 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8619375 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17922610 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18443887 However, the following 29 Pubmed studies say just the opposite, namely, that fat people do, indeed, have better bone health than thin people: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12459938 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17637603 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11256896 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16130443 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18931820 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19169767 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19082777 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17612864 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15928804 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18633665 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8615336 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18221845 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2763880 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7785459 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9240737 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11450711 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17125421 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11900271 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7747670 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12161964 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15959616 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18308533 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18176948 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18458282 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18599490 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18425283 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14676991 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18239959 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18025492 The following 3 PubMed studies say that a reduced risk of hip fractures is the one and only way in which fat people have better bone health than thin people: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19277453 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8592954 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19292617 The following 3 PubMed studies agree with Thijs R. Klompmaker (Wai Genriiu) that fat people can thank the hormone, leptin, for the better bone health that they enjoy compared to thin people: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11589677 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17721073 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17924050 However, the following 9 PubMed studies were unable to link the hormone, leptin, to better bone health: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18182730 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11165951 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9817937 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12634942 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17002557 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15563886 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19434343 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12369793 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16353671 For those of you who believe that fat people have better bone health than thin people because they get more natural, weight-bearing exercise, here are 6 PubMed studies that speak positively about the use of weighted vests during exercise to increase bone density: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17724395 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10995045 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8518768 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12585781 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9467434 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12544629 However, the following 2 PubMed studies speak negatively about the use of weighted vests during exercise: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10733058 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17111308
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Do fat people have better bone health than thin people?
- By rmchavin
- Posted June 16, 2009 at 3:27 am · 12 replies
- In Diseases and health conditions that can cause bone loss
- Shared with the public
- Edited June 17, 2009 at 11:22 am
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Cancer Weakness Prednisone Fractures Osteoporosis Breast cancer
12 replies
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- By Tuftie
- Posted June 16, 2009 at 10:32 am
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Just wondering if perhaps the amount of natural estrogen a woman's body produces might not have a role in explaining this? The body of a heavier women often produces higher levels of estrogen. This is quite apparent when you look at the face and skin of heavier ladies.
- By debbie59
- Posted June 16, 2009 at 11:56 am
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Tuftie, from what my Dr. told me is that post menopausal women that are on the heavier side have stored more estrogen in their fat when we were still making estrogen. This can help keep the bones healthier than a thin woman. I've also noticed, as have a lot of my girl friends, that heavier ladies don't have as many wrinkles. I'm getting a facelift!!
- By Char42
- Posted June 16, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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Very interesting question, my Mother was a beautiful fat woman, she did not have osteoporosis, I am thin, my Sister not as thin, but both of us have osteoporosis. Mother did not take any Estrogen products. She had beautiful facial skin and she was a heavy smoker for 35 years.
- By Southernlady
- Posted June 16, 2009 at 8:19 pm
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I believe heavier people have no wrinkles because their face is fat.......when they loose weight they gain instant wrinkles. My friend lost 50 pounds.......she has wrinkles now but they are very light and she does not look bad but she hates the wrinkles. SO, it is good to be heavy for the bones but for nothing else. UGH
For ladies that don't have good finger nails....I am using Qtica Nail Strength Growth and its all natural and my nails grow faster. They are not thicker or stronger but they grow faster and now I keep my nails to a short length that looks nice. So great to not have my nails break off in the quick.
- By debbie59
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 10:48 am
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I agree with southern lady. Heavier women do appear to have less wrinkles but the osteo thing probably entails many more factors and being over weight causes so many other problems it's probably better to be on the thinner side. I would think that you should just calculate your optimal BMI ( you can just google that ). Like I said I'm getting a "Quick Lift" for my 60th birthday. I'll let you know how it goes. Better yet I'll change my profile picture so you can judge for yourselves.
- By nobonesaboutit
- Posted June 17, 2009 at 1:10 pm
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A skinny OB/GYN Dr I used to work for once told me that fat people always have strong bones. Well, My sister has had foot fractures and possibly a broken rib and she's quite obese. Everybody's different!
- By bethanyb
- Posted June 18, 2009 at 2:07 am
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I am thin and just found out I have osteoporosis at age 32. I'm the kind of person that can eat anything and never gain weight. I've never restricted my food intake and I've tried to eat healthful foods although I do eat my share of fattening things. I've also taken multivitamins most of the time. I've generally been moderately active, but not enough to keep my weight down. I've seen many friends with similar lifestyles to me struggle with their weight, but for some reason I never put on extra weight no matter how much I eat or how little I exercise. Both my mother and sister are average or slightly overweight & osteoporosis doesn't run in my family. I'm wondering if there is something preventing my body from utilizing nutrients as efficiently as others and that has resulted in my low bone density. My doctor hasn't been able to find any secondary cause for my osteoporosis, but it just seems like there must be something & that other thin people may have the same problem.
- By debbie59
- Posted June 18, 2009 at 11:45 am
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Bethanyb, Has your Dr. checked your thyroid ?
- By bethanyb
- Posted June 18, 2009 at 11:57 am
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debbie59,
I think he did, but I'm not sure. He did a lot of labwork and didn't explain it all to me. I do have a copy of the results. Do you know what the test for thyroid problems would be called?
- By raindancer
- Posted June 18, 2009 at 1:12 pm
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My sisters are both quite a bit heavier than I am. One was about 40/50 # overweight for 35 years..her Osteo is about the same as mine and except for a few years of 20# gain from prednisone, I have always been about where I should be for my height.
She smoked, I didn't. I had to use prednisone for 6 years, she didn't. I have always been strong and she never was. I exercised most of my life..she never did . she had breast cancer [estrogen dependent] I haven't [so far at least].
What does this prove...NOTHING...Osteo has many causes and there are so many variables even in families that at this point, it seems to be caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle and lack of info..we both should have been taking extra Vit D for the last 30 years [well, 25 years in my case as I worked outdoors all year around until then
. Too late for us..our younger sister is now on Vit D and extra calcium and awaiting her first Dexa .
- By iola
- Posted June 19, 2009 at 11:10 am
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My Sister has bad Bone. Heavy but not real fat.
She is 84 look good drive her Car and no broken Bone, I say heavy People are better off. i have sprue Des. i am 100 pounds have comprase facture of T8 verbrave i am 76 she is better off then me. bottle line fat people are better off and no can tell me any different. Happy Father Day to all our Male frienda out there.
- By Jeffer
- Posted June 20, 2009 at 11:38 am
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I think the reason is that heavier people almost always have more estrogen than thinner people. Estrogen, generally, controls much of the bone building processes in women and men.
In the case of men, as they get older, they tend to accumulate belly fat. This belly fat changes the conversion ratio for testosterone to estrogen (ie, more testosterone gets converted to estrogen for heavier men, even moderately heavy). Since all hormone levels decline as we age, this fat helps compensate for the lack of estrogen in older men, resulting in less osteoporosis.
That's my theory anyway.
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