US life expectancy hits all-time high--so what about all those fat people?

Guess what--Americans are living longer than ever, according to this WebMD article. The average lifespan of someone living in the US today is almost 78--about 8 years more than it was in 1967, and 24 years more than in 1915.

Gee, what about all the doomsaying (or, rather, fearmongering) about Americans getting fatter? Seems like almost every time weight or "obesity" is mentioned in the media these days it's associated with terms like "epidemic" and "killer disease" and dire predictions that this generation of children won't outlive their parents.

Whaddaya know--there wasn't a single mention of weight (much less "obesity") in this article. Hmmm, maybe someone was actually aware that despite oft-repeated "obesity kills" rhetoric, so-called "overweight" is actually associated with longevity--that is, "overweight" people on average live longer than thin people--and in older adults, especially, higher weights are associated with better health.

So what does WebMD recommend people do to "maxmize your chances of dancing a jig at your 90th birthday party?"

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables; stay physically fit and active; don't smoke; don't drink too much alcohol; get plenty of sleep; and see your doctor regularly.

My goodness--focusing on healthy behaviors rather than weight? That's a Health At Every Size message!

Never thought I'd see that on WebMD. Maybe I'm dreaming.