Does Obesity Reduce Life Expectancy?

Several studies have shown that obesity reduces life expectancy. This data is alarming when you consider that the number of obese or overweight people in the world has increased significantly in recent years.

Scientists have discovered that obesity can cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. The OECD – Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development – ​​estimates that there could be 95 million premature deaths from obesity by 2050.

According to estimates from that organization, Mexico is the country that will experience the worst reduction in life expectancy due to obesity. They are followed by Russia, Poland, the United States, Japan and India, in that order. Today, one in four people is obese. 

Obesity reduces life expectancy

Currently, obesity is seen as a global epidemic that will not stop growing. Researchers think that about 1.9 billion adults in the world suffer from this condition. It also affects about 340 million children and teenagers.

Obesity is a risk factor for getting diseases. Among these diseases, we can highlight the following, which are closely related to each other:

• Type 2 diabetes: Currently, 8 in 10 people with diabetes are also overweight or obese.

• Hypertension: This is a common disease in overweight people.
• Heart disease: This includes several heart conditions, several of which carry the risk of death.
• Stroke: Hypertension is the main risk factor.
• Sleep apnea: increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Metabolic syndrome: This also includes a range of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
• Fatty liver disease: Increases the risk of severe liver damage, cirrhosis, or liver failure.
• Osteoarthritis: Weight puts pressure on the joints and cartilage.
• Gallbladder problems: There is an increased risk of developing gallstones and cholecystitis.
• Kidney disease: Obesity stimulates and accelerates kidney disease.

• Problems during pregnancy: Obese mothers are also at greater risk of complications during pregnancy.
• Cancer: Some cancers have also been linked to overweight and obesity.

Revealing Investigations

A study in the FMC magazine (Spanish link) published in 2013 showed the results of a 40-year follow-up of 3,456 obese people, of which 1,550 were men and 1,907 women. They all started the study when they were between 30 and 49 years old.

The study concluded that obesity reduces life expectancy. It points out that men lose about 5.3 years of their lives and women about 7.1 years. If these people also smoked, this increased to 6.7 years in men and 7.2 years in women.

Another study conducted by the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI), published in 2014 in the journal PLOS Medicine, concluded that people over 50 kg overweight live between 6.5 and 13.7 years less. than people of normal weight.

The OECD’s Report

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presented a report in 2019 stating that being overweight alone shortens life expectancy by about three to four years. In this case, they are only talking about overweight people, not obese.

The report also noted that three out of five obese people live in wealthy countries. Among them are the United States, where about 40% of adults and 20% of children are overweight. Three in five people in the UK are overweight.

The OECD draws attention to the fact that 50% of the world’s people have an unhealthy diet. Two in five people do not eat enough fruit and vegetables. In addition, one in three people does not exercise enough.

This organization also warned that if this situation doesn’t change, obesity will cause 60% of new cases of diabetes in the next 30 years. It will also cause 18% of cardiovascular disease, 11% of dementia and 8% of various cancers.