Obesity can shorten life by up to eight years, new research finds

Living with severe obesity can cut a person’s life expectancy by as much as eight years and lead to decades of poor health, according to new research from McGill University in Canada.

The findings, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal, reveal that obesity at a young age poses the greatest threat to long-term health and longevity.

Researchers used a computer model to analyse the effect of excess weight on life expectancy and quality of life, identifying notable differences between men and women.

Compared with healthy-weight adults aged between 20 and 39, men living with severe obesity were found to lose 8.4 years of life, while women in the same category lost 6.1 years. Men also spent an additional 18.8 years in poor health, compared with 19.1 years for women.

Among people in their forties and fifties, men living with obesity lost 3.7 years of life and women lost 5.3 years. For those in their sixties and seventies, obesity shortened life expectancy by around one year, though both men and women still faced an average of seven years of ill health.

“The pattern is clear,” said Professor Steven Grover, who led the research. “The more an individual weighs and the younger their age, the greater the effect on their health, as they have many years ahead during which the increased risks associated with obesity can negatively impact their lives.

“Our computer modelling study shows that obesity is linked with a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, as well as diabetes,” he added.