A study reveals that slightly overweight people may have a lower death risk. A new study says that slightly overweight people may have a lower risk of dying than people who are underweight, normal, or dangerously obese. Although experts say other things have a factor in overall health like blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, which can be affected by a person’s weight. Using a data group of almost three million people, the study is the largest and most accurate of its kind comparing mortality rates to body mass index or BMI. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. The study found that being just overweight led to a 6 percent decrease in the risk of death compared to people of average weight. But subjects who were too overweight with a BMI higher than 35 are looking at a 29 percent increase in the risk of death. Some other studies have found that heavier patients who survive heart attacks are more likely to live longer than people of normal weight. The research was publishing in the Journal of the American Medical Association saying: “Possible explanations have included earlier presentation of heavier patients, greater likelihood of receiving optimal medical treatment, cardioprotective metabolic effects of increased body fat and benefits of higher metabolic reserves."