Just when you've made the New Year resolution to get to the gym and lose a few pounds, you may not have to.

A new study says being slightly overweight may actually help you live longer.

Researchers looked at data on nearly three million adults around the world.

They compared the body mass index, a measurement of weight in relation to height, to the risk of death.

The study found people with a little extra weight had a six-percent lower risk of dying compared to people considered "normal" weight.

It's not an excuse to pack on the pounds.

Obese people had more than triple the risk of dying, according to the study.

And the research looked at only death, not chronic medical conditions.

The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.