According to a new study people who are 80 or more pounds over a normal weight are considered, extremely obese and live 3 to 12 years less. Although the research found that just being overweight or moderately obese, has little or no effect on life span. The finding adds to the growing body of evidence that being slightly overweight may have no influence on life expectancy, but being severely overweight takes years off people’s lives.
In general, about 66% of adults in the US are either overweight or obese. About one-third of people are in the obese category, meaning they have a body mass index of 30 or more. Body mass index, or BMI, is a measure based on height and weight. Approximately 6% of people are extremely obese, meaning that they have a BMI of 40 or greater.
A non-profit research organization in N.C., analyzed national data on 366,000 people.
Among the findings being published online in the journal Obesity:
• Overall, excess weight was responsible for the loss of roughly 95 million years of life in the USA in 2008.
• Non-smokers who are obese — those who are about 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight — have a shorter life span by a year or less.
• Non-smokers who are overweight — about 29 pounds over a healthy weight — do not have shortened lives.
• Smoking takes a toll, too, and very heavy smokers are affected most. An 18-year-old white male who is normal weight and does not smoke can expect to live to age 81. If he’s extremely obese and a smoker, his life expectancy is 60, a difference of 21 years. Obviously, the best advice is to quit smoking.
The effect of extreme obesity appears to be greater for men than women and for whites than blacks, according to the co-author of the study. Lead author Eric Finkelstein says being moderately overweight may not affect people’s life span because there are so many effective treatments to manage the health problems that often come with extra pounds, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. For instance, of the top 25 most prescribed medications, 10 target high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, he says.
Obesity experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have conducted additional research that shows the high medical costs of extra pounds. They recently published a study that showed obese Americans cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008, which is double the amount from a decade ago. Overall, an obese patient has $4,871 in medical bills a year compared with $3,442 for a patient at a healthy weight.
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About The Author -
Lisa Macfarlane is a professional health writer and editor who specializes in sexual health and men’s health issues.
