OLDER people should ditch dieting and embrace a few extra kilos, new research shows.

The Deakin University study reveals carrying extra weight is actually healthier for older people than being lean.

According to the research, senior citizens with a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight range live longer than those who are slimmer.

Professor of Nutrition and Ageing at Deakin University, Caryl Nowson, said her research team looked at the relationship between BMI and the risk of death in people aged over 65 years.

It found the lowest risk of death was among those with a BMI of around 27.5, which was deemed overweight under official World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, she said.

Meanwhile, mortality was greater in those with a BMI of about 22, which was classified as ‘normal and healthy’ under the WHO guidelines.

“It’s something we’ve suspected for a long time but we’ve never had the evidence (until now),” Prof. Nowson told the Geelong Advertiser. “People in the overweight range do much better and have a much lower risk of dying earlier.”

Prof. Nowson said the message for older people was that they could happily gain a few kilos as they aged.

“Provided that you can move around and carrying that extra weight is not slowing you down or causing pain on your joints, there’s no need to think you need to lose weight. You just need to keep active and eat a varied diet. Don’t cut down on your food,” she said.

People over the age of 65 actually needed more nutrients than younger people, Professor Nowson added.

The news that being chubby was a good thing did not surprise the ladies at the Norlane Senior Citizen’s Club yesterday.

“I like to say I carry a bit of weight so that if I fall over, I’ve got something to fall back on,” laughed 69-year-old Carolyn Titler. “I’m not surprised by it but it’s still nice to hear.”

Like other members of her friendship group, she enjoys a robust diet of meat and vegetables for dinner most nights, with fruit and sandwiches during the day.

Fellow club members Glad Kavanagh, 81, and Marjorie Scott, 65, said they managed to stay fit, healthy and happy, thanks to activities offered twice-a-week through the senior citizen’s club.

Prof. Nowson said the results of the study, published in the April issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggested the current BMI recommendations might not be suitable for older adults.

“It is time to reassess the healthy weight guidelines for older people,” she said.

Prof. Nowson said her research team reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2013 that reported on BMI and risk of death in people aged over 65 years. About 200,000 people were followed for an average of 12 years.

“What we found is that losing weight is probably not going to help you live longer,” she said. “That’s good news for a lot of people.”