Studies Poverty reduces lifespan more than obesity

Study: financially worse off people live significantly shorter
Obesity is a disease that can have a very negative impact on the health of those affected. Researchers now found that living in poverty has a greater impact on life expectancy than obesity or high blood pressure. On average, financially worse off people live up to two years less.

The scientists from the Lifepath consortium, funded by the European Commission, found in an investigation that poor people live up to two years shorter. The effects of poverty even exceed the reduction in life expectancy due to obesity. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "The Lancet".

Poverty has a strong impact on our life expectancy. Poor people live on average about two years shorter. (Image: stephm2506 / fotolia.com)

Risk factor for premature death is almost as high as that due to physical inactivity
Surprisingly, social rank and lack of funding are more impacting life expectancy than heavy drinking or obesity, say the experts. The risk factor for premature death from poverty is almost as high as that caused by physical inactivity, the authors explain.

Which factors can reduce the lifespan??
A low social rank reduces the average lifespan by about 25 months. By comparison, heavy drinking leads to a reduced life expectancy of about six months, the researchers say. Obesity reduces life expectancy by about eight months. Diabetes causes those affected to live about four years shorter and smoking even causes a reduced life expectancy of five years. The current study was the first attempt to weigh the health risk of socioeconomic status against other modifiable factors, at least in high-income countries, the authors explain.

Politicians must know and take into account the risk factors
Given the enormous impact of socioeconomic status on health, it is crucial that governments accept this major risk factor and consider it in their health policies, said lead author Silvia Stringhini of the University of Lausanne.

Socioeconomic status needs to be improved
Reducing poverty, improving education and creating safe home, school and work environments are key to overcoming the effects of socio-economic deprivation, the researchers explain. In this way, the socioeconomic status could be purposefully improved, which would lead to more wealth and health for many people.

Effects of socioeconomic status are underestimated by politicians
The authors of Lifepath add: Low socioeconomic status is one of the strongest predictors of premature mortality worldwide, but politicians seem to underestimate this risk factor. On the other hand, smoking, drinking and physical inactivity are already the focus of many national and global health measures. Obesity reduced the average life expectancy by about eight months. Poverty, on the other hand, leads to a reduction of more than two years. Social rank could be improved, for example, by state tax and education policies, say the experts.

Physicians analyze data of 1.7 million people
For their investigation, the scientists examined the data from 48 older studies. It was attended by 1.7 million people from seven countries. The participating countries included, for example, Australia, Great Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and the United States. (As)