Being overweight could have benefits

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This is typically the time of year many of us vow to go on a diet. If you’re motivated by the way you look, that's one thing. But if it's for longevity you might want to reconsider.

Diana Gonzalez has the surprising results of a new study that finds being overweight might have real benefits.

Extra holiday calories. We found lots of people trying to burn them off and asked some of them about their new year's resolutions.

"Obviously it's to get fit. same one I had last year, but i'm determined to do it this year."

"To age with grace so that's my New Year's resolution."

"Well, just keep the weight I'm at, try not too pack on the pounds so."

Mine is to lose weight and if you share my New Year's resolution a new study is probably going to make you feel better.

Being overweight lowers risk of death according to findings just released in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

CDC researchers analyzed nearly 100 studies from the U.S. and around the world dealing with BMI body mass index and death rates.

"There were almost 3 million people in all these studies and over 270 thousand deaths," said Dr. Katherine Flegal.

Those with a BMI in the overweight category fared better than those in the normal weight category.

"Sometimes that surprises people but they really should not be too surprised because in our categories of 97 studies, 80 per cent of them showed that there was lower mortality in overweight than in normal weight people," Flegal said.

That does not apply not if you're BMI is in the obese category.

Body mass index is a calculation based on your height and weight.
A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

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