From CNN.com:

Packing on the pounds is not nearly as deadly as the government thought, according to a new calculation from the CDC that found people who are modestly overweight actually have a lower risk of death than those of normal weight.

Whoa whoa whoa. Hold the goddamn presses.

What is the criteria on which we base the "ideal" weight if not longevity?

If "modestly overweight" is healthier, why is it considered "overweight" in the first place? "Healthy," by any historical perspective, is a cultural yardstick governed by modern perception of aesthetics and this study flies directly in the face of not only the entire advertising industry but even government propaganda.

Well how else can it be interpreted?