Being overweight was good for elderly according to a new study published in the Journal of The American Geriatrics Society. It was found that people over 70 years who were overweight had lesser chances of dying over a ten-year period.

Overweight older adults had a better survival advantage, the Australian study stated. After the study in which more than 9, 000 adults were analyzed 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, “Unless they have these conditions, there is not much reason to tell people in their 70s and beyond to lose weight if they are not obese. 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."

Men had a lesser effect of having a sedentary lifestyle and a 28 per cent increase in death among men was found which was less than women.