Obesity And Life Span

Rising obesity levels will prevent any gain in US life expectancy that may have occurred because of reduced smoking levels, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers analyzed national survey data and discovered smoking rates decreased by 20 percent since 1994, while obesity increased by 48 percent. Scientists estimate that by 2020, reduced smoking rates will increase the average 18-year-old’s life expectancy by 0.31 years, but increased obesity will lower life expectancy by 1.02 years. The study’s lead author clarifies that life expectancy will not decline, but it could have increased significantly if obesity wasn’t a factor. Smoking and obesity both increase the risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the US.