15 replies to this topic

[pmcglothin]

All,

Tall people have a special challenge if they want to practice calorie restriction – just to maintain their body structure, a fair amount to calorie intake is necessary . For these folk, and I am one of you, I think CR is virtually mandatory if you aspire to live long and healthfully.

My Uncle Pat, is an exception. Now 90 years old and still working 6 days a week, he was just featured on the cover of City View magazine, the what’s happening periodical for my hometown, Knoxville Tennessee. He has practiced moderate CR for all of his adult life and inspired this blog post: the Tall Don’t Always Die Young!




Paul

[sthira]

I wonder what is the definition of "Tall"?  I'm sort of tall at 6'2" 130 pounds, and - until now - never knew being tall was a risk factor.  Also, why would the practice of CR be virtually mandatory for tall people?

[JLL]

sthira, on 27 February 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:

I wonder what is the definition of "Tall"?  I'm sort of tall at 6'2" 130 pounds, and - until now - never knew being tall was a risk factor.  Also, why would the practice of CR be virtually mandatory for tall people?

There is a negative correlation between longevity and height. Probably related to the "metabolism = aging" theory.

I guess the CR comment meant that if you're tall and don't do CR, your risk of dying relatively young is higher. But then again, I can imagine being tall and very skinny is a risk in itself -- broken bones come to mind.

[sthira]

NHANES found no relation between height and heart disease when age and years of education were adjusted for 13,031 men and women tracked for 13 years.  Okasha found no association between height and all-cause mortality in a study of 10,700 male and female students at Glasgow University, Scotland, observed for 40years.

"However, animal and human data suggest that larger body size independently reduces longevity:

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC1071721/

[Skötkonung]

sthira, on 27 February 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:

I wonder what is the definition of "Tall"?  I'm sort of tall at 6'2" 130 pounds, and - until now - never knew being tall was a risk factor.  Also, why would the practice of CR be virtually mandatory for tall people?

http://jech.bmj.com/...4/2/97.abstract
"The risk of deaths from cancer unrelated to smoking tended to increase with height, particularly for haematopoietic, colorectal and prostate cancers. Stomach cancer mortality was inversely associated with height. Adjustment for socioeconomic position had little influence on these associations."

http://dx.doi.org/10...3205(02)02503-1
"Findings based on millions of deaths suggest that shorter, smaller bodies have lower death rates and fewer diet-related chronic diseases, especially past middle age. Shorter people also appear to have longer average lifespans. "

There are some interesting theories kicking about regarding IGF-1 signaling, longevity, and height. Small people do tend to live longer on average, but if you really are only 130lbs then I don't think you have much to worry about. On the contrary, your low BMI (16~) places you in a demographic at higher risk from death due to illness. Most of the CR literature I've read says a BMI of 18.5 (and lean) is the lower limit.

http://cat.inist.fr/...&cpsidt=2985434
"This quantitative analysis of existing studies revealed increased mortality at moderately low BMI for white men comparable to that observed at extreme overweight, which does not appear to be due to smoking or existing disease. Attention to the health risks of underweight is needed, and body weight recommendations for optimum longevity need to be considered in light of these risks."

Edited by Skötkonung, 02 March 2011 - 06:02 AM.

[Ghostrider]

I really don't think height has anything to do with longevity.  It has everything to do with calorie intake..solution: be skinny and tall.  Still though, 130 lbs and 6'2"?  Wow, and I thought I was light at 5'7" and 123.

[sthira]

But I don't think CR is about being skinny, even if "tall".  I think it's about reducing calorie intake, even if tall.

[pmcglothin]

sthira, on 02 March 2011 - 02:51 PM, said:

But I don't think CR is about being skinny, even if "tall".  I think it's about reducing calorie intake, even if tall.

Thanks to you , Shira and all here for your comments on this subject I have thought a lot about. Sorry, I haven't been able to answer your insightful replies before now.

First I would agree that CR is not about being slim. It is about lowering calories and perhaps just as important, cell signaling -- getting the body to shift its metabolism from growth and energy usage to cell maintenance and energy production. For those following the CR Way, we recommend keeping BMI at a minimum of 18.5, as was suggested in one thoughtful reply in this dialogue. I have discussed this many times with Dr, Fontana and he has clearly warned that as weight drops lower and lower, bone density becomes a significant risk factor.

Its far better to maintain a reasonable BMI ( like my Uncle Pat whom I featured in the start of this subject) and defend it by eating more calories when weight drops too low. Every successful centenarian I have observed has a BMI along these guidelines. The key is their thriftiness -- the fact that they are able to maintain their weight with few calories. My friend Ralph, who made it to 104, had a BMI of 22+ but he maintained it with a tiny amount of calories.

He was 5' 10". I'll bet if he was several inches shorter, he would have become a supercentenarian. That was his goal.

  

  I do not wish to demoralize  tall folk about their chances for longevity. The purpose of the blog and post here was to expose the risk factors so we can work together to minimize them.

  


Paul

Edited by pmcglothin, 26 March 2011 - 06:15 PM.

[The Immortalist]

I'd rather be taller and bigger and live a tiny bit less than be shorter and live a tiny bit more.

[Esoparagon]

I'm 194cm tall (6'5") and pretty much accept the fact that that's a huge disadvantage in the longevity game.

[mikeinnaples]

Ghostrider, on 02 March 2011 - 08:40 AM, said:

Still though, 130 lbs and 6'2"?  Wow, and I thought I was light at 5'7" and 123.

My thoughts are the same ...wow. For the life of me, I cannot see how that can be remotely healthy.

[The Immortalist]

Esoparagon, on 02 April 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

I'm 194cm tall (6'5") and pretty much accept the fact that that's a huge disadvantage in the longevity game.

I envy you, when did you stop growing? I'm 17 and 6'1 so I hope It's possible I could catch up with you.

Edited by The Immortalist, 04 April 2011 - 04:03 PM.

[pmcglothin]

Esoparagon, on 02 April 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

I'm 194cm tall (6'5") and pretty much accept the fact that that's a huge disadvantage in the longevity game.

My Uncle Pat, the inspiration for this post, was almost 6' 6" when he was your age. Now at 90 , still working 6 days a week, and moderately calorie restricted for all of his adult life, he provides hope that tall folk can live long and well. I am so hoping he achieves his goal to become a centenarian.

Wishing you extraordinary health,

Paul

[teewoods]

sthira, on 27 February 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:

I wonder what is the definition of "Tall"?  I'm sort of tall at 6'2" 130 pounds, and - until now - never knew being tall was a risk factor.  Also, why would the practice of CR be virtually mandatory for tall people?

You need to EAT more at that weight!

[teewoods]

pmcglothin, on 05 April 2011 - 06:37 PM, said:

Esoparagon, on 02 April 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

I'm 194cm tall (6'5") and pretty much accept the fact that that's a huge disadvantage in the longevity game.

My Uncle Pat, the inspiration for this post, was almost 6' 6" when he was your age. Now at 90 , still working 6 days a week, and moderately calorie restricted for all of his adult life, he provides hope that tall folk can live long and well. I am so hoping he achieves his goal to become a centenarian.

Wishing you extraordinary health,

Paul

I believe its physical activity that's keeping him going less so the calories. Older people tend to eat less anyway, their appetite decreases with age. You'd never meet an old person with a huge appetite. I know as I worked in many old peoples homes and you had to force them to eat.

[Esoparagon]

It's not total calories, it's how many calories each cell gets.