A study has shown that fitness is the key  51  long life, irrespective of body shape or even smoking habits. Researchers discovered that people  52  exercise live longer than those do not,  53  they are overweight and smoke.

The study found that the least fit of the 6 000 middle-aged men in the study were five times  54  to die within six years of the start of the research than the  55 . This was true whether or not the men had heart problems, smoked or were overweight. Scientists concluded that it was better to be fat and  56  than skinny and sedentary. Dr. Ken Cooper, a fitness expert, said, "You are better off smoking a packet of cigarettes a day and  57  regularly than being a non-smoker and sedentary." Although he adds, "But don't misunderstand me. I am not endorsing smoking. I am trying to tell you how dangerous it is to be sedentary."

 58 , the study appears to fly in the face of research last year which concluded that more than

30 000 people die prematurely every year in Britain from illnesses caused by being overweight.

The British Government is putting pressure on manufacturers  59  high levels of sugar in food and to restrict the hard-sell of junk food to children in order to improve the nation's health. But the new study suggests the Government  60  more people to exercise.