Denser bones for the obese?

Aside from getting a proper measurement done with a machine-thingamabobbie, is there a consistent average for how much more the bone weighs in someone who is obese, MO, SMO, etc? I was reading in the 185 and happy thread, and did not want to hijack to ask! How off is an average? How much do denser bones add to the same measurements as someone who was never obese? Five pounds? Ten? It can't be /that/ much, can it?

I don't know, but it's an interesting question.  I suspect that, like many things, this may vary quite a bit depending on an individual's physiology.  But I'll be interested in whether anyone can offer some insight on this question -  Kellie

I agree with Kellie that it probably varies quite a bit, depending on how active the person was (mechanical stress makes your bones thicker and stronger) and their past diet (enough calcium in childhood) and whether they were heavy as kids - most of your bone development and calcium deposition occur in childhood and early adulthood, so if you were heavy then you probably have thicker bones.  And its not just your bones, its the overlaying muscles, which have to be bigger to move that weight.  If you continue with strength training and get enough protein to minimize muscle loss (you will have SOME no matter what) then you've got some extra muscle bulk and strength compared to someone who wasn't ever heavy.  And then add, for someone who is SSMO, approx 15-40lbs of extra skin and there you go - its going to be tough to get down to a normal BMI.