Some exra kilos make you live longer

A US study suggests that only severe obesity carries a high death risk, and that a few extra pounds might even provide a survival advantage.However, independent experts say the methods are too flawed to make those claims.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is by a federal researcher who drew controversy in 2005 with a report that found thin and normal-weight people had a slightly higher risk of death than those who were overweight.

Many experts criticised that work, saying the researcher – Katherine Flegal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – painted a misleading picture by including smokers and people with health problems ranging from cancer to heart disease.  (MTI)