A new report suggests that being overweight is not as harmful as commonly believed, & actually confers some surprising benefits.

Being 5 to 10 lbs overweight could protect people from ailments ranging from tuberculosis to Alzheimer’s disease, research indicates.

Those carrying 15 to 25 extra lbs r better able to recover from adverse conditions such as emphysema, pneumonia, & various injuries & infections, states the report.

30 to 40 lbs of flab could help fend off breast, kidney, pancreatic, prostate, & colon cancer. And an extra fifty pounds on the scale may improve eyesight, reverse baldness, cure the common cold, and reduce global warming.

In general, the report concludes, overweight people are happier, more successful in business, smarter, and friendlier.

The study was funded by a research grant from McDonald’s, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, Domino’s Pizza, Starbucks, Haagen Dazs, Sara Lee, and Krispy Kreme.