It is more important to know what YOUR average heart rate is, rather than to compare yourself to a population average. This goes for most biometrics. Your normal body temperature, triglyceride levels, cholesterol, etc. is likely to be different from the population norms.
That said, a lower heart rate is _usually_ indicative of better health or better fitness. Lance Armstrong has a resting heart rate around 35 bpm. Chronic smokers and habitual coffee drinkers can have higher heart rates than normal. 60 bpm is about normal, but if you are an athletic type, it might be more like 50 bpm for an average.
From personal experience I know that weight loss can also reduce your heart rate. It makes sense if you think about it. Two things are happening. You are hopefully getting in better shape as you lose weight... exercising more frequently, etc. You are also reducing the volume of your whole body. You lose 10% of your body weight, your heart doesn't have to push as hard to move the blood around. At least that was how I've always thought about it.
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You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.
- Albert Einstein
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