"The higher total body fat or fat around the abdomen, the greater the risk of heart disease and stroke in individuals without existing disease..."

Can You Be Obese But Heart-Healthy? Study Says No

"The higher total body fat or fat around the abdomen, the greater the risk of heart disease and stroke in individuals without existing disease," said lead researcher Dr. Stamatina Iliodromiti. She is a clinical lecturer in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. "There is no protective effect of fat, as some people believe."

And whatever your particular body mass index (BMI), losing a few pounds will only improve your health, Iliodromiti added.

"There are no downsides to losing weight," she said.