Obesity Discussion Forums

[SheaGrl]

Dangers of Obesity Equivalent to a Lifetime of Smoking

Researchers from Oxford University compared lifestyle and mortality data of nearly one million people worldwide and concluded that severe obesity shortens a person’s lifespan by ten years, which is a comparable effect to a lifetime of smoking. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. People with a BMI of 40-50 are considered to be severely obese. Every increase in BMI over 25 was found to significantly decrease life expectancy.

Moderate obesity was found to reduce a lifespan by 3 years. "Being obese not only shortens life, it also leads to chronic ill-health -- diabetes, high blood pressure, gallstones, back and joint troubles," said Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the U.K. Faculty of Public Health. "My advice is don't let it creep up on you. Cut down the fat in your food and use every opportunity to be more physical."

The study was conducted by Oxford University's Clinical Trial Service Unit and was published in The Lancet.

[monique]

This info would really help me out if I had a time machine...

But I still think we should remember that it is NOT AT ALL conclusively shown that obesity leads to the conditions she mentions. I really think that it is merely one symptom of an unhealthy lifestyle that causes health problems. Obesity is a symptom, not a cause, of being unhealthy. Otherwise I would surely have some health problems by now, and I wouldn't know so many thin people with diabetes and high blood pressure.

~Monique