“About two years ago, a group of federal researchers reported that overweight people have a lower death rate than people who are normal weight, underweight or obese” . . . .

“A body mass index of 25 to 30, the so-called overweight range, ‘may be optimal,’ [Dr. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, a professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego] said.”

From “Causes of Death are Linked to A Person’s Weight,” by Gina Kolata, in NY Times, November 7, 2007.