Are you getting on in years and have a few pounds you need to lose? Does your doctor bug you about the ol’ spare tire, that seems to have come out of nowhere? –Well maybe you shouldn’t worry so much.

According to a study done by the University of Western Australia and published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, being a little overweight may actually extend your life.

The university team tracked the number of deaths over 10 years among volunteers who were aged 70 – 75 at the start of the study.

It found that those with a BMI which classed them as overweight, but not obese, not only had the lowest overall risk of dying, they also had the lowest risk of dying from specific diseases: cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease.

The study also showed that being seriously under weight did as much to shorten a person’s life as being obese.

The long and the short of the study is:
As long as you aren’t too overweight, and you get enough exercise, your can outlive that annoying person with the perfect figure who keeps telling you that they can eat anything they want and never gain an ounce.

Live long, prosper and enjoy that bagel with real cream cheese.