Scientific studies have shown for many years that weight and BMI are good predictors of long term health, and recent research has now shown that people with a healthy body shape in addition to a healthy weight are even more likely to live longer and healthier lives.
What is a healthy body shape?
A healthy body shape is defined by a small waist circumferences in relation to a person's weight and height. Some experts talk about this as a "pear shape" versus "apple shape" - with research proving that people who are "pear shaped" have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease than those who are "apple shaped".
Read scientific paper here
How can you achieve a healthy weight and body shape?
The best way to achieve a healthy weight and body shape is through a combination of diet and exercise. Eating less will obviously help you lose weight, but dieting accompanied by exercise helps you to not only lose weight, but also build muscle and encourages preferential fat loss from around the waist, meaning that that any weight loss is even more protective.