L’obesity, in its most extreme form, would reduce human life expectancy even more than tobacco. This observation is made by researchers from the American National Cancer Institute after analyzing 20 studies in the United States, Sweden and Australia. According to their observations, the life expectancy of people with severe obesity drops from 6.5 to 13.7 years.
A person is considered obese when their body mass index (BMI), or the ratio between weight in kilograms and height in square meters, is equal to or greater than 30. Extreme obesity begins at 40. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 35% of adults worldwide are obese or overweight.
BMI increases, life expectancy decreases
In France, according to data from the National Institute of Health (Inserm), obesity concerns 15% of adults. “However, the most recent data, dating from 2012, are hopeful: for the first time in more than 30 years, the progression of obesity is finally slowing down in our country”, indicates the public establishment.
This is good news for the life expectancy of the French, since the study by the National Cancer Institute indicates that the latter decreases in proportion to the increase in BMI.
