Obesity statistics in question

The much-touted figure of 300,000 deaths per year in the USA from obesity could be a massive over-estimate because it is based on taking risk in non-elderly populations with a low risk of death from other causes and extrapolating to the whole population. But age is such a decisive factor in mortality risk that the extrapolation is invalid. And, as Steve Milloy points out, there are actually health benefits to obesity in later life.

FOXNews.com - Views - Junk Science - Government Questions Obesity Scare