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This may sound unbelievable, since overweight is something to be considered unhealthy. However, research shows that being overweight could actually have a positive effect in certain situations.

Researchers of the Leuven Universtiy in Belgium found out that some extra fat supply can be useful. Very sick patients with a higher fat percentage had a bigger chance of recovery that thin, skinny patients. Supposedly, the fat tissue can play a protective role in the process of recovery. It can absorb and store harmful substances in the blood, like glucose or fatty acids. By playing this role of “storage room” it improves the chances of survival of critically ill patients.

However, don’t think you should start to eat hamburgers right away! Even though these positive side effects for critically ill patients, too much body fat increases the chances on all kinds of chronic diseases. So unless you’re seriously ill, go work out instead!

The research was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine