Obesity and Life Expectancy
Being obese is clearly an unhealthy way to live, so it stands to reason that this could lead to a younger death. Being obese has various health risks associated with it, meaning that it is important to reduce and regulate your weight if you are obese. If this is not carried out then there are a number of factors to consider
Health problems associated with obesity.
You can already read up on the details surrounding health issues in the section Health Problems Associated With Obesity, but in a nutshell they include heart disease (which means a higher chance of a stroke), high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease (including gallstones), gout and sleep apnea.
If i am obese what kind of life expectancy will i have ?
Traditionally, life expectancy over the ages rises, which falls in line with increases in technologies that allow us to combat diseases including cures to conditions as well as preventative medicine.
The environment in which we live is also cleaner for the most part and in this country we have universal health care.
However, scientists have been warning that the obesity epidemic that is gripping both the United States (and the United Kingdom) could reverse this and pretty soon we could have the first drop in the average life expectancy for a century (study was carried out by universities in association with the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)).
More Information on Obesity Surgery
» Obesity surgery FAQ
» Obesity facts
» What is my BMI?
» Are you a candidate for obesity surgery?
» What are the different types of obesity surgery?
» Gastric banding
» Gastric balloon
» What are the risks of obesity surgery?
» How your life will change after weight loss surgery?
But what does this mean to you?
The reasons for this are clear. As technology has allowed us to fight disease and combat infections it has also provided us with alternatives to physical activities such as the car and video games. As a result, less people are getting enough exercise, whilst at the same rate more and more unhealthy food is readily available in shops.
Reports indicate that people who suffer from type 2 diabetes, something that can in itself be caused by obesity, could reduce the life expectancy of around 8 years. On average, the average life expectancy for the country could drop by 5 years (if recent trends in the US are anything to go by).
In recent reports it was indicated that those born in this century could live to their late seventies, but they will only be healthy on average until they are in their late 60s, which is also true of women (though they can expect to live a little longer than men).
It goes to show that changing your lifestyle and going on the road to healthy living really could increase the length of your life. That is possibly the best reason of all to get exercise and eat healthily.
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