New Study: Obesity Shortens Life Span
Obesity may cut up to 8 years from one's life. It's time to raise awareness from childhood.
A new study determines that obesity shortens life by approximately 8 years. Until now, we knew that obesity is a major factor in various health problems and diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, vascular issues, and strokes. However, it now turns out that obesity not only harms us while we live, but it actually shortens our life span.
The study published in the magazine Diabetes & Endocrinology establishes that obesity not only shortens life span but also deprives one of two decades of healthy life without chronic diseases. This pertains to a BMI of 35 and above.
Life expectancy is affected (illustration: shutterstock)"The younger the age at which weight increases, the greater the impact on health, and consequently, an individual will have more years to exacerbate health risks and diseases," explained Professor Steven Grover, an epidemiologist and the lead researcher from McGill University.
In the study examining individuals aged 20-39, it was found that men suffering from severe obesity will lose 8.4 years of their life, while women will lose 6.1 years. Those who are less obese will lose 3-5 years. As the age of the subjects increases to the forties and fifties, the number of years lost also decreases. Additionally, the study found that men suffering from severe obesity will live 18.8 years in poor health, compared to 19.1 years for women.
