Widespread weight loss may reap health benefits - Reuters

If a large swath of the population cut down on calories and took up exercise, the resulting health benefits could be extensive, a new study suggests....

Specifically, people's overall calorie intake declined, while their physical activity levels climbed -- mainly as a result of walking or biking instead of paying for public transportation.

As a result, the prevalence of obesity fell by half -- from 14 percent of the adult population to 7 percent -- and deaths from diabetes, heart disease and stroke dropped substantially....