It is well understood and accepted that obesity impacts negatively upon our health. However, a recent study published in the online U.K medical journal The Lancet, has further quantified just how detrimental obesity can be to our life expectancy and quality of life.

According to the study, which tracked the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and cause of death, it was suggested that an increase of one-third over the healthy BMI range heightened a person’s chance of death by a third. For an individual with a BMI over 40, that equates to approximately 10 years.

The heightened mortality rate among those who are severely overweight, was suggested to be due to the increased incidence of health issues such as diabetes, stroke and most of all heart problems, such as heart attacks. The impact of obesity on longevity has been likened to the impact of a life-long smoker.

The research suggested that a BMI of between 22.5 and 25 was the ideal for a prolonged life expectancy. Hopefully, with this research in mind, we can all find the motivation needed to loose weight and create a healthy life!

To read more on this study, visit Bloomberg.com or The Lancet.