☰Menu

Obesity Can Shorten Life Expectancy by 14 Years

Author: NIH - National Cancer Institute
Published: 10 Jul 2014 - Updated: 22 Jun 2021

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications

Synopsis: Study finds people with class III or extreme obesity have dramatic reduction in lifespan expectancy compared with people of normal weight.

Adults with extreme obesity have increased risks of dying at a young age from cancer and many other causes including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney and liver diseases.

Introduction

Adults with extreme obesity have increased risks of dying at a young age from cancer and many other causes including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney and liver diseases, according to results of an analysis of data pooled from 20 large studies of people from three countries.

Main Content

The study, led by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, found that people with class III (or extreme) obesity had a dramatic reduction in life expectancy compared with people of normal weight. The findings appeared July 8, 2014, in PLOS Medicine.

"While once a relatively uncommon condition, the prevalence of class III, or extreme, obesity is on the rise. In the United States, for example, six percent of adults are now classified as extremely obese, which, for a person of average height, is more than 100 pounds over the recommended range for normal weight," said Cari Kitahara, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, and lead author of the study. "Prior to our study, little had been known about the risk of premature death associated with extreme obesity."

In the study, researchers classified participants according to their body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of total body fat and is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. BMI classifications (kilogram/meter-squared) are:

The 20 studies that were analyzed included adults from the United States, Sweden and Australia. These groups form a major part of the NCI Cohort Consortium, which is a large-scale partnership that identifies risk factors for cancer death. After excluding individuals who had ever smoked or had a history of certain diseases, the researchers evaluated the risk of premature death overall and the risk of premature death from specific causes in more than 9,500 individuals who were class III obese and 304,000 others who were classified as normal weight.

The researchers found that the risk of dying overall and from most major health causes rose continuously with increasing BMI within the class III obesity group.

Statistical analyses of the pooled data indicated that the excess numbers of deaths in the class III obesity group were mostly due to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Years of life lost ranged from 6.5 years for participants with a BMI of 40-44.9 to 13.7 years for a BMI of 55-59.9.

To provide context, the researchers found that the number of years of life lost for class III obesity was equal or higher than that of current (versus never) cigarette smokers among normal-weight participants in the same study.

The accuracy of the study findings is limited by the use of mostly self-reported height and weight measurements and by the use of BMI as the sole measure of obesity. Nevertheless, the researchers noted, the results highlight the need to develop more effective interventions to combat the growing public health problem of extreme obesity.

"Given our findings, it appears that class III obesity is increasing and may soon emerge as a major cause of early death in this and other countries worldwide," said Patricia Hartge, Sc.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and senior author of the study.

Reference: Kitahara CM, et al. Association between Class III Obesity (BMI of 40-59 kg/m) and Mortality: A Pooled Analysis of 20 Prospective Studies. PLOS Medicine. July 8, 2014.

Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Global Rates Reach Alarming Levels

Pediatric overweight and obesity have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and are becoming a pandemic globally. Published: 26 Sep 2024.

Childhood Weight Recall Key to Predicting Obesity Mortality

Adulthood overweight and obesity may confer greater risks for all-cause mortality and incident CVD among individuals who perceive themselves to have been thinner or plumper than the average child. Published: 13 May 2024.

Waist-to-Height Ratio Beats BMI for Childhood Obesity

Waist-to-height ratio accurately detects fat mass in children and teens, outperforming BMI by 15% while offering an affordable screening alternative. Published: 6 Mar 2024.

U.S. School Meals Would Be Healthier if Compliant With American Nutrition Standards

Researchers report that aligning student meals to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans would further support children's well-being and cut healthcare costs into adulthood. Published: 31 Jul 2023.

Link Between Child TV Time and Metabolic Syndrome

Study adds weight to the evidence that watching too much television as a child can lead to poor health in adulthood. Published: 24 Jul 2023.

Child's Weight Has Little Effect on Mood and Behavioral Disorders

A study finds that childhood body mass index is unlikely to strongly affect children's depression, anxiety, or ADHD symptoms when parents' genetics are accounted for. Published: 21 Dec 2022.

View the Full List of Related Publications

What People Are Saying

Start, or join, thought-provoking conversations with other Disabled World readers on this topic.

Share and Comment

Permalink:

<a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/child-obesity/shorten.php">Obesity Can Shorten Life Expectancy by 14 Years</a>: Study finds people with class III or extreme obesity have dramatic reduction in lifespan expectancy compared with people of normal weight.

While we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date information, our content is for general informational purposes only. Please consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation.