Does an excessively overweight condition exert an adverse effect on expected life span? The answer is unequivocally YES! The Framingham Study revealed that mortality rates for nonsmoking men that were 9% over their ideal weight was 3.9 times that of nonsmoking men at desirable weight. The findings for overweight women were similar with clear indications of adverse long-term mortality. There is no indication that there is a “safe” level of being overweight. Nor is there an indication that weight gain in middle age is “healthful” or that “desirable” weight increases with age. Mortality rate increases severely as the degree of obesity increases.
MORTALITY RELATIVE TO WEIGHT
|
Percentage above your Ideal weight |
Likelihood of NOT reaching your normal life expectancy | |
| 5 – 15% | 10% | |
| 15 – 25% | 27% | |
| 25 – 35% | 34% | |
| 35 – 45% | 41% | |
| 45 – 55% | 111% | |
| 55 – 65% | 127% | |
| 100% or more | 1,100% |
Actuarial data compiled through 2003
Data based on 15 to 39 years of age male and female.