Mortality
In the United States, obesity leads to 300,000 deaths per year. Obesity reduces the life expectancy of an otherwise healthy, nonsmoking, 40 year old woman by 7.1 years; it reduces the equivalent 40 year old male’s life by 5.8 years. Sustained weight loss reduces the risk of death from all obesity related causes, including cardiac disease, diabetes, and cancer.
The chart to the right depicts the percentage of people alive at a given BMI. Notice, over the age of 40, the higher the BMI, the more likely a person is to be dead at any age.
The chart to the right depicts the percentage of people alive at a given BMI. Notice, over the age of 40, the higher the BMI, the more likely a person is to be dead at any age.