Even moderate overweight significantly reduces the lifespan

Physicians are studying the effects of overweight on longevity
Obesity and obesity are known to have a negative impact on human health. Researchers are now studying how slight overweight influences the likelihood of premature death. The results show that even a slight overweight can reduce the lifespan.

The scientists from the Boston University School of Public Health and the internationally recognized Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found in their study that even low overweight has a negative impact on the life expectancy of those affected. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine".

Obesity and obesity lead to health problems with some serious consequences. It has been known for some time that obese people have a reduced life expectancy. Researchers now found that low overweight increases the risk of premature death. (Image: vladimirfloyd / fotolia.com)

Effects of obesity
Obesity leads to an increased risk of health complications such as strokes, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes and cancer. By such diseases, the life expectancy of those affected can sometimes be significantly reduced. The current study confirms this assessment and also shows that even a slight overweight can reduce a person's life span.

What does the obesity paradox theory say?
The current research also shares the reservations regarding the so-called obesity paradox theory. This hypothesis assumes that an overweight person who is not obese lives longer compared to their slimmer counterpart, say the physicians. The obesity paradox asserts that mild obesity does not increase the risk of death in overweight individuals.

Scientists analyze data from more than 225,000 subjects
To conduct the study, the researchers identified and analyzed the weight history of 225,072 men and women. Participants were assessed based on their body weight, physical activity, diet, smoking habit and other health issues, the authors of the study explain.

Physicians carry out a twelve-year follow-up examination
To calculate the so-called body mass index (BMI), the researchers used the values ​​of the participants' weight over a period of 16 years. The subjects were then medically monitored for twelve years. At the beginning of the 12-year follow-up, participants were either 50 or 60 years old.

During the follow-up examination more than 32,000 subjects died
During the period of follow-up, a total of 32,571 deaths were reported among the participants. The researchers found that individuals with the highest BMI in overweight (25.0 to 29.9) had a six percent increased risk of dying during the follow-up period. The participants, who had a maximum BMI within the normal weight range of 18.5 to 24.9 BMI, had a lower risk of premature death, add the physicians.

Already a bit overweight reduces the life expectancy
If the BMI was of people in the obese range (30 to 34.9 BMI) or already had severe obesity (BMI over 35), the risk of dying prematurely was increased by 24 to 70 percent, compared to those with a normal BMI the scientists. This finding suggests that people who are overweight may have a reduced lifespan compared to leaner people.

Many people in the world have problems with being overweight
About a third of adults in the US have weight issues, the researchers report. A quarter of the world's population is overweight. The increased risk of death of overweight and obese people is therefore extremely important for public health, stress the medical profession. (As)

Conditions leading to death may have lowered BMI in previous studies
Previous studies have shown an association between overweight and decreased mortality, contrary to current findings. In these studies, it could be that the causes leading to death caused a lower BMI, so that the meaningfulness of the study is in question, explains study author Dr. Andrew Strokes. (As)