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LONDON: In what is claimed to be one of the clearest indications yet of the mortal dangers of obesity, a new study says that just four stones of flab can take three years off one's life.
And, what's more shocking is that the study has shown that those who are extremely overweight could lose nearly ten years of their life.
Lead researcher Gary Whitlock was quoted by the 'Daily Mail' as saying: "Excess weight shortens human lifespan. In countries like Britain and America, weighing a third more than the optimum shortens lifespan by about three years.
"For most people, a third more than the optimum means carrying 20 to 30 kilogrammes -- 50 to 60 pounds, or 4 stones -- of excess weight. If you are becoming overweight or obese, avoiding further weight gain could add years to your life."
The researchers at Oxford University have based their findings on an analysis of almost a million adults -- in fact, they assessed the impact of obesity by studying data from 57 separate studies in Europe and North America.
The study found a clear link between high body mass index scores and an early grave. The BMI is used to calculate whether a person is a healthy weight, in which an individual divides weight (in kilos) by square of his height (in metres).
The study found having a BMI above the "ideal" range of 22.5 to 25 led to higher death rates. Above BMI of 25, each additional five units on BMI scale increased overall mortality by around a third.
As well as looking at overall death rates, the study has linked BMI scores with common causes of death through ill health. Each additional five BMI units corresponded with a 40 per cent increase in deaths from heart and artery diseases.
The same rise in BMI led to an increase in deaths of between 60 per cent and 120 per cent from diabetes and liver or kidney disease, 10 per cent more from cancer, and one-fifth rise from lung disease, according to the researchers.
"Moderate obesity, in the BMI range of 30 to 35, reduced survival by between two and four years. Severe obesity in 40 to 45 BMI range cut lifespans by ten years comparable to smoking," co-researcher Prof Richard Peto said.
And, what's more shocking is that the study has shown that those who are extremely overweight could lose nearly ten years of their life.
Lead researcher Gary Whitlock was quoted by the 'Daily Mail' as saying: "Excess weight shortens human lifespan. In countries like Britain and America, weighing a third more than the optimum shortens lifespan by about three years.
"For most people, a third more than the optimum means carrying 20 to 30 kilogrammes -- 50 to 60 pounds, or 4 stones -- of excess weight. If you are becoming overweight or obese, avoiding further weight gain could add years to your life."
The researchers at Oxford University have based their findings on an analysis of almost a million adults -- in fact, they assessed the impact of obesity by studying data from 57 separate studies in Europe and North America.
The study found a clear link between high body mass index scores and an early grave. The BMI is used to calculate whether a person is a healthy weight, in which an individual divides weight (in kilos) by square of his height (in metres).
The study found having a BMI above the "ideal" range of 22.5 to 25 led to higher death rates. Above BMI of 25, each additional five units on BMI scale increased overall mortality by around a third.
As well as looking at overall death rates, the study has linked BMI scores with common causes of death through ill health. Each additional five BMI units corresponded with a 40 per cent increase in deaths from heart and artery diseases.
The same rise in BMI led to an increase in deaths of between 60 per cent and 120 per cent from diabetes and liver or kidney disease, 10 per cent more from cancer, and one-fifth rise from lung disease, according to the researchers.
"Moderate obesity, in the BMI range of 30 to 35, reduced survival by between two and four years. Severe obesity in 40 to 45 BMI range cut lifespans by ten years comparable to smoking," co-researcher Prof Richard Peto said.