Fat people better protected from TB?

Normally linked to a variety of health problems such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular, obesity may actually be helpful in preventing tuberculosis amongst the elderly.

That's according to a recent study in Hong Kong, that elderly, obese people are, on average, better-protected against the disease than people who are underweight or of normal weight -- the heavier you are, the lower your risk.

There's no conclusive evidence as to why obese people fair better against the disease, so further research is needed. However, doctors theorize that the connection is due to the fact that our fatty tissues control both our metabolism and our immune systems.

Oddly, this is thought to be the reason that the numbers of people catching TB started to fall before there was a cure. As the populations of certain countries starting getting fatter, less people contracted the disease.

That said, in the long run, your chances of dying from an obesity-related condition are far higher than your chances of contracting and dying from TB. So take the weight off -- it's worth the risk.