I saw a BBC program a few months ago that examined why people that lived through the Great Depression (and Dust Bowl) of the 30's generally lived longer than most other generations despite not having adequate nutrition.
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-19112549
Quote:
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Calorie restriction, eating well but not much, is one of the few things that has been shown to extend life expectancy, at least in animals. We've known since the 1930s that mice put on a low-calorie, nutrient-rich diet live far longer. There is mounting evidence that the same is true in monkeys.
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This doesn't dispute the claim that underweight people are at a higher risk of dying early than the overweight. However, it does suggest that in some cases, people that are forced to fast intermittently (and as a result are likely underweight) actually tend to live longer than their overweight (or even regular weight counterparts).
So, I think the moral of the story is: don't be severly underweight, don't be severly overweight, eat healthy, and maybe occasionally take a day or two off from eating*.
*Not sure if enough human studies have been done yet so consult your doctor before you go on a hunger strike dumbass.