1564 Oh Bees

Obesity. The recent scientific news buzz will increase it. Partly because it seems to say obesity ain't all that bad. A study conducted not long ago says that obesity alone is not necessarily a risk factor for early death. A separate study confirmed that skinniness alone is not a surefire indicator of health.
Well duh.
Smoking alone is not necessarily an indicator you'll get lung cancer. There are lots of nonagenarians still hacking butts. But that doesn’t mean we should all go out a fire up.
Nor does the obesity study, which I assure you will be misinterpreted, say we should all go out and have a hot fudge sundae.
The study actually said, "...all other factors being equal, otherwise healthy people are not at risk of a heart attack just because they are obese." Those other factors were the next level of diagnoses of something wrong. Hardening of the arteries, cholesterol and plaque build up, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, etc.
Which, um, more obese people seem to have.
My suggestion, before you gulp down that corn dog, climb a set of stairs.
The study said if you exercise regularly and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, just being fat isn't necessarily a killer. Likewise just being skinny is no reason to load up on the bacon-crusted donuts. Skinny people can have problems too. One genetic variation confers both skinniness and high cholesterol—and the risk of early heart attack.
The lesson: No matter what, eat right.
But knowing human nature, and the way we twist facts to fit what we want to do anyhow, I'd be willing to bet the lesson most folks actually take from the study will be, "Scientists say obesity ain't that bad. Pass me another bowl of sausage gravy."
America, ya gotta love it.