There is also the advantage of carrying that extra weight in that it conditions your musculoskeletal system and helps prevent osteoporosis. I had my first DEXA scan earlier this month and my bone mineral density Z score is 3.4 which places me above the 99th percentile for sex and age. I will even have a conversation with my internist to whom I sent the results in September to make sure there is no underlying condition causing such a high skeletal mass (6 lbs). But since I feel just fine, I do not think there is an underlying condition. I think it is just that I consume a ton of dairy products rich in calcium, get sunlight, supplement with Vit D3, have some experience with weight training, but mostly am simply carrying my body on these bones, training them.

Emaciated women, by contrast, are at a high risk of porous bones.