For the past several years, Americans have been bombarded with reports on the nation's obesity epidemic. And yes, by and large, we are a fairly chubby group. But when are we going to realize that our health problem is not about weight? Weight is the least important predictor of longevity. In fact, new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterates the point that packing a few extra pounds may actually mean (SET ITAL) added (END ITAL) years to your life.

We have known for decades that there is a U-shaped curve correlating weight and longevity. In the early 1970s, Dr. Reuben Andres, director of the National Institute on Aging's clinical branch, showed that people who are 10 percent to 15 percent overweight tend to have lower mortality rates. People who are significantly underweight (10 percent to 15 percent below their ideal body weights) and those who are morbidly obese have shorter life expectancies. It is possible that those who are on the extremes of the spectrum -- either more than or less than their ideal weights -- are more likely to have unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, lack of exercise and poor nutrition.

In 2005, even more evidence was released showing that a few extra pounds in the middle are not that bad. In a report published by Dr. Katherine Flegal from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, weight and longevity are inversely correlated. In other words, the heavier you are, up to a point, the longer you're likely to live. No one really knows why, but for the population at large, being pleasantly plump confers a survival advantage.

Last month, Flegal and her colleagues from the CDC published a research paper in The Journal of the American Medical Association in which they reiterated their earlier observation that overweight individuals had longer life expectancies than those who were either very obese or significantly underweight. In this second study, they attempted to confirm their earlier findings and to expand them in order to examine the causes of death in the three groups.

Researchers found that being overweight -- not obese -- was associated only with excess mortality from diabetes and kidney disease. More surprisingly, however, being overweight was not associated with increased deaths from heart disease or cancer. There was an apparent protective effect for overweight and obese individuals against many other illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, various neurological diseases, many infections, chronic lung disease and injuries. The obese group had an increased risk of dying from cancers that have been proved to be obesity-related, including colon, breast, prostate and kidney cancers.

Again, the bottom line is that weight is not a major predictor of risk of death. I believe the "obesity epidemic" has been somewhat overstated, but only insofar as it places too much emphasis on pounds and waistlines. It is possible to be healthy and overweight, fit and fat. Your lifestyle is much more important than your pants size.

I also can say that what you eat is much more important than how much you weigh. For example, a recent study conducted at the University of Maryland showed that subjects on the low-carbohydrate, high-fat Atkins diet for four weeks had a significant elevation of their bad (LDL) cholesterol, marked constrictions of their arteries, a harbinger of high blood pressure and evidence of increased inflammation in the blood -- all of which indicate a higher risk of heart disease. Irrespective of your weight, consuming a high-fat, high-sodium diet predisposes to heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure and cancer.

As a nation, we must develop a better relationship with food. Stop seeing food as the enemy, and forgive yourself for those "extra" pounds padding your belly. Dieting should be limited to those with good medical reasons. If you have diabetes, osteoarthritis of your back or knees, high blood pressure or difficulty breathing during sleep, prudent weight loss can be very beneficial to your overall health.

If you are 10-15 pounds overweight, don't diet. Eat healthful foods, exercise, stay happy and love the way you look. Remember, you are already "in shape" -- your own, personal, natural shape. Treat your body well, and it will return the favor.

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Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.drdavidhealth.com.