Obesity and Life Expectancy
Content
Tabatha Balsamo Senior Seminar Debate #2 March 16th, 2011 "Does obesity cause a decline in life expectancy? Yes, it does” Obesity rates have increased dramatically in the last 20 years. Currently, about 32.7 percent of U.S. adults 20 years and older are overweight, 34.3 percent are obese and 5.9 percent are extremely obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Overweight and obese people are at a higher risk of suffering from Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, dyslipidemia, thyroid conditions, and sleep apnea (Center for Nutrition Policy and Prevention, 2005). Some researchers have even estimated that obesity causes about 300,000 deaths in the U.S. annually (Science Daily, 2005). This can only suggest that obesity does cause a decline in life expectancy. A breakthrough report, Obesity Threatens to Cut U.S. Life Expectancy, which appeared in the March 17, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, stated that over the next few decades, life expectancy for the average American could decline by as much as 5 years unless aggressive efforts were made to slow rising rates of obesity (Olshansky et al., 2005). The authors also concluded that the U.S. would be facing its first sustained drop in life expectancy in the modern era due to obesity rates. Furthermore, they suggested that the methods used to establish life expectancy projections, which had long been based on historic trends, had to be reassessed as obesity rates were surging in today’s children and young adults, basing their conclusions on an analysis of body mass indexes and other factors that could potentially affect the health and wellbeing of the current generation of children and young adults (Olshansky et al., 2005). As vastly researched, being overweight in childhood increases the risk among men of death from any cause
and death from cardiovascular disease; it also increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity among both men and women (Must, Jacques, Dallal, Bajema, & Dietz, 2002). This is not only an American phenomenon. A prospective study of 6139 subjects in Germany found the greatest obesity-associated excess mortality to be among the young— the standardized mortality ratio for people 18 to 29 years of age with a BMI of 40 or over was 4.2 in men and 3.8 in women (Bender, Jockel, Trautner, Spraul, & Berger, 1999). In another analysis of almost one million people from around the world, data showed that obesity could trim years off life expectancy (Science Daily, 2009). This analysis, coordinated by the Clinical Trial Service Unit in Oxford, brought together data from 57 long-term research studies from different countries in which people were followed for an average of 10 to 15 years, during which 100,000 died, making it the largest ever investigation of how obesity affects mortality (Science Daily, 2009). This research found, for example, that amongst middle-aged people in the U.K., as many as 1 in 4 deaths from heart attack or stroke, and 1 in 16 cancer deaths were due to being overweight or obese. It also found that in the U.S., where middle-aged people are typically a few kilograms heavier, the figures were even higher: 1 in 3 heart attack or stroke deaths, and 1 in 12 cancer deaths in the U.S. were due to being overweight or obese (Science Daily, 2009). Data from additional research, including data from insurance databases and large prospective cohorts such as findings from the Framingham and NHANES studies, clearly indicate that obesity is associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality rates proving that people who are severely obese, live up to 20 years than people who are not overweight (Uwaifo & Arioglu, 2011). Data also show that obesity is associated with an
increased risk and duration of lifetime disability. Furthermore, obesity in middle age is associated with poor indices of quality of life at old age (Uwaifo & Arioglu, 2011). There is a clear need to develop a global strategy for managing the increasing number of overweight and obese subjects in the community. Obesity, as a major contributor to global cardiovascular risk, requires coherent management. Effective long-term weight loss necessitates persistent changes in dietary quality, energy intake and physical activity. Weight loss is associated with a significant reduction of blood pressure and has beneficial effects on the associated risk factors. Governments and the private sectors should mobilize against obesity; this in addition with increased education and medical treatments, can tip the balance in favor of reduced mortality and continued improvements in life expectancy.
References Bender, R., Jockel, K.H., Trautner, C., Spraul, M., & Berger, M. Effect of age on excess mortality in obesity. JAMA 281 (1999):1498-504. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (December 2008). Prevalence of overweight, obesity and extreme obesity among adults: United States, trends 1976-1980 through 20052006. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/overweight/overweight_adult.pdf. Center for Nutrition Policy and Prevention. (December 2005). Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved from: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2005/2005DGConsumerBrochure. pdf#xml=http://65.216.150.153/texis/search/pdfhi.txt? query=foods+with+high+calories&pr=MyPyramid&rdepth=0&sufs=2&order=r&cq=&id=4d 507c7b10d Must, A., Jacques, P.F., Dallal, G.E, Bajema, C.J., & Dietz, W.H.. Long-term morbidity and mortality of overweight adolescents: a follow-up of the Harvard Growth Study of 1922 to 1935. The New England Journal of Medicine 327, (2002):1350-5. Olshansky, J. et al. "A Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century". The New England Journal of Medicine 352, no. 11 (2005): 1138-45. Science Daily (March 21, 2005). Obesity Threatens To Cut U.S. Life Expectancy, New Analysis Suggests. Science Daily. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050321085233.htm Science Daily (March 20, 2009).Moderate Obesity Takes Years Off Life Expectancy. Science Daily. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319224823.htm Uwaifo, G. I & Arioglu, E. (March 8, 2011) Obesity. EMedicine from WebMD. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/123702-overview
and death from cardiovascular disease; it also increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity among both men and women (Must, Jacques, Dallal, Bajema, & Dietz, 2002). This is not only an American phenomenon. A prospective study of 6139 subjects in Germany found the greatest obesity-associated excess mortality to be among the young— the standardized mortality ratio for people 18 to 29 years of age with a BMI of 40 or over was 4.2 in men and 3.8 in women (Bender, Jockel, Trautner, Spraul, & Berger, 1999). In another analysis of almost one million people from around the world, data showed that obesity could trim years off life expectancy (Science Daily, 2009). This analysis, coordinated by the Clinical Trial Service Unit in Oxford, brought together data from 57 long-term research studies from different countries in which people were followed for an average of 10 to 15 years, during which 100,000 died, making it the largest ever investigation of how obesity affects mortality (Science Daily, 2009). This research found, for example, that amongst middle-aged people in the U.K., as many as 1 in 4 deaths from heart attack or stroke, and 1 in 16 cancer deaths were due to being overweight or obese. It also found that in the U.S., where middle-aged people are typically a few kilograms heavier, the figures were even higher: 1 in 3 heart attack or stroke deaths, and 1 in 12 cancer deaths in the U.S. were due to being overweight or obese (Science Daily, 2009). Data from additional research, including data from insurance databases and large prospective cohorts such as findings from the Framingham and NHANES studies, clearly indicate that obesity is associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality rates proving that people who are severely obese, live up to 20 years than people who are not overweight (Uwaifo & Arioglu, 2011). Data also show that obesity is associated with an
increased risk and duration of lifetime disability. Furthermore, obesity in middle age is associated with poor indices of quality of life at old age (Uwaifo & Arioglu, 2011). There is a clear need to develop a global strategy for managing the increasing number of overweight and obese subjects in the community. Obesity, as a major contributor to global cardiovascular risk, requires coherent management. Effective long-term weight loss necessitates persistent changes in dietary quality, energy intake and physical activity. Weight loss is associated with a significant reduction of blood pressure and has beneficial effects on the associated risk factors. Governments and the private sectors should mobilize against obesity; this in addition with increased education and medical treatments, can tip the balance in favor of reduced mortality and continued improvements in life expectancy.
References Bender, R., Jockel, K.H., Trautner, C., Spraul, M., & Berger, M. Effect of age on excess mortality in obesity. JAMA 281 (1999):1498-504. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (December 2008). Prevalence of overweight, obesity and extreme obesity among adults: United States, trends 1976-1980 through 20052006. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/overweight/overweight_adult.pdf. Center for Nutrition Policy and Prevention. (December 2005). Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved from: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2005/2005DGConsumerBrochure. pdf#xml=http://65.216.150.153/texis/search/pdfhi.txt? query=foods+with+high+calories&pr=MyPyramid&rdepth=0&sufs=2&order=r&cq=&id=4d 507c7b10d Must, A., Jacques, P.F., Dallal, G.E, Bajema, C.J., & Dietz, W.H.. Long-term morbidity and mortality of overweight adolescents: a follow-up of the Harvard Growth Study of 1922 to 1935. The New England Journal of Medicine 327, (2002):1350-5. Olshansky, J. et al. "A Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century". The New England Journal of Medicine 352, no. 11 (2005): 1138-45. Science Daily (March 21, 2005). Obesity Threatens To Cut U.S. Life Expectancy, New Analysis Suggests. Science Daily. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050321085233.htm Science Daily (March 20, 2009).Moderate Obesity Takes Years Off Life Expectancy. Science Daily. Retrieved from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319224823.htm Uwaifo, G. I & Arioglu, E. (March 8, 2011) Obesity. EMedicine from WebMD. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/123702-overview
