The numbers start in 1999 because the previous year the CDC arbitrarily changed its criteria for healthy weight, by dictat rendering swaths of the population ov

The numbers start in 1999 because the previous year the CDC arbitrarily changed its criteria for healthy weight, by dictat rendering swaths of the population overweight[1] For the elderly at least, being somewhat overweight is actually healthier.[2] I appreciate that the authors of the article are trying to be helpful but too much useful information is left on the cutting room floor here. [1] http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9806/17/weight.guidelines/ http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9806/17/weight.guidelines/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3182070/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3182070/