Big, fit folks may live longer

Would you rather be slim and in shabby shape or big and in super shape? If you wish to live longer, bigger is better.

Slimmer folks may seem to have the advantage, says Fitness magazine, but body size may have less to do with longevity than we think.

Researchers have determined that overweight people who are cardiovascularly fit tend to outlive their lanky, out-of-shape counterparts. Fitness -- all it takes is a brisk 30-minute walk most days of the week -- can decrease your risk of premature death by up to 50 percent, even for those with a high body fat percentage. Fitness also lowers the risk for diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

More on longevity here at this AOL Body site.