Being overweight after 70 might not be so bad

January 28, 2010 The Australian study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society finds those who were overweight -- a step below obese -- faced a 13 percent lower risk of death compared with those who were normal weight.

There was no benefit for the obese.

The study also found that being sedentary doubled the risk of death for women and raised it by one-quarter for men.

According to study authors, it may be time to re-evaluate the system that determines who is overweight and obese.