Advisers may want to share with their clients and their families the main findings of a global body mass index (BMI) study, which found conclusive evidence that being overweight can take years off a person’s life.
Two of the key findings in the report, published in the British journal, The Lancet, were:
- Moderate obesity reduces life expectancy by about 3 years
- Severe obesity can shorten a person’s life by 10 years. This 10 year loss is equal to the effects of lifelong smoking.
A BMI of 30 - 35 indicates moderate obesity, while a BMI of 40 to 50 indicates severe obesity
The report consolidated data from 57 separate long-term studies, mostly from Europe and North America, where over 900,000 men and women’s lives were tracked for an average of 10 to 15 years. It is the largest ever investigation of how obesity affects mortality.
In a simple statement that summarises the survey findings, Dr Gary Whitlock of Oxford University, who led the analysis team, said “Excess weight shortens human lifespan.”
Dr Whitlock also observed that moderately obese people were 50 per cent more likely to die prematurely than ‘normal weight’ prople, but added that if an individual is becoming overweight or obese, avoiding further weight gain could well add years to their life.
The study found that mortality was lowest in those individuals with a BMI of 23 to 24, with a higher death rate among those whose BMI was below the 23 to 24 range.
The study also found that obesity increases death rates for some types of cancer, but the main way it kills is by increasing risk of heart disease and stroke.
Another survey outcome suggests that many overweight people often do not realise they are indeed overweight, based on their BMI.
Anyone wishing to determine their own BMI, which is a function of height and weight, can take the following link: BMI Calculator
