Extra weight is not necessarily linked with a higher risk of death.
When compared to those with normal weight, people who are overweight or obese have no increased risk of death unless they also have diabetes or hypertension.
The risk of having an above-normal BMI may be lower than previously concluded. Therefore the relationship between obesity and long-term mortality needs to be re-examined.
Jennifer Lee
Lecturer in Creative Writing, Gender Studies and Literary Studies at Victoria University
It'd be great to read an article about this from the researchers - written for the Conversation! They also conclude that it's safer to be diabetic and fat than it is to be diabetic and thin - which goes against all the 'health' messages we've been hearing about weight loss: 'Mortality in diabetes was lower among obese versus normal weight individuals.'