A group of experts from Oxford University have published findings warning that being morbidly obese is as detrimental to life expectancy as a lifetime’s smoking. The study, published in the well-respected medical journal The Lancet, compiled data on nearly 1 million people from all over the world. It showed that obesity reduced lifespan by about three years, rising to ten years in extreme cases.
Severe obesity is calculated as being when someone has a BMI (the measure of weight derived from comparing weight to height) of between 40 and 50. About 2% of the UK population fall into this category, while a further one in four adults is moderately obese. The researchers believe that amongst the middle-aged, up to 1 in 4 heart attacks or strokes and 1 in 16 cancer deaths are attributable to weight.
The scientists warned that as the middle-aged were at particular risk, it was necessary to take preventative action before the weight was gained, as it was far more difficult to lose once middle-aged spread had started. Cancer and heart charities have greeted the study positively, with the British Heart Foundation (who supported the study) not only advocating individuals maintaining a healthy weight themselves but supporting recent government initiatives. Professor Pete Weissberg said, “... this study emphasises the importance of public health measures, such as the recently launched Change 4 Life campaign, as part of a raft of Government initiatives that will be needed to reduce the nation's weight."