The study followed 2,603 adults aged 60 or over for a mean of 12 years. Results showed that obese subjects who were fit had a lower risk of dying than normal-weight subjects who were physically inactive. While fitness predicted mortality risk regardless of smoking, baseline health, body mass index, waist circumference or body-fat percentage, waist circumference was not associated with increased mortality after fitness was considered.
“Normal-weight individuals in our study had greater longevity only if they were physically fit; furthermore, obese individuals who were fit did not have increased mortality,” the authors report. “It may