If you thought that being overweight was unhealthy, think again. According to a new study published in the Journal of The American Geriatrics Society people over 70 years who were overweight had lesser chances of dying over a ten year period.

A study enrolled about 4,677 men and 4,563 women in 1996. To reach to a conclusion all the enrolled participants were were followed for ten years or until they died. Factors responsible for health like lifestyle, demographics, and health were measured. Researchers finally concluded that people who were overweight had lesser mortality rate. The risk of dying was reduced by 13 per cent for adults who were overweight.

Lead researcher Prof Leon Flicker, of the University of Western Australia, said, "Concerns have been raised about encouraging apparently overweight older people to lose weight and as such the objective of our study was to examine the major unresolved question of, 'what level of BMI is associated with the lowest mortality risk in older people. Those who survive to age 70 in reasonable health have a different set of risks and benefits associated with the amount of body fat to younger people, and these should be reflected in BMI guidelines."