Quotes from Glenn A. Gaesser

There is a significant body of research that goes beyond telling us that weight does not really matter all that much, to suggest that carrying a few extra pounds, over and above the weights currently being recommended, may actually have health benefits, resulting in reduced risk of many diseases and disorders that affect quality as well as length of life. These diseases include lung cancer, the number-one cause of cancer deaths among men and women, premenopausal breast cancer, and osteoporosis.

In the United Kingdom, the Osteoporosis Society reports that more women die from hip fractures due to osteoporosis than from cancers of the cervix, uterus, and breast combined.

you are probably at your ideal weight when you are not trying to do anything to control your weight, but are eating a relatively low-fat, fiber-rich diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and being physically active.