Being obese can cause you to die 8 years earlier, with the last 20 years in miserable health

(NaturalNews) Everybody knows that being obese greatly reduces one's quality of life and makes it much more difficult to maintain a normal, healthy existence. But a new study out of Canada has scientifically quantified the obesity health toll as shaving up to eight years off of a person's life, with several decades of relative misery leading up to this early death.

Researchers from McGill University in Montreal noted that the major risk factors associated with obesity are common illnesses like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Most people are aware of these conditions, and even their relationship with obesity, but they often fail to recognize how quality of life is degraded once they are present.

Published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, a study comparing young men and women of healthy weights to young obese individuals found that those who were overweight lost about 8.4 years off of their lives if they were men and 6.1 years off of their lives if they were women.

Similarly, the young obese men suffered 18.8 more years of poor health leading up to their early deaths compared to men of healthy weight, while young obese women suffered 19.1 years of poor health. Even when obesity emerged just in old age, both men and women were found to lose years off of their lives: for men, an average of 3.7 years and for women about 5.3 years.

"Our computer modelling study shows that obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, and diabetes that will, on average, dramatically reduce an individual's life expectancy," stated Professor Steven Grover, one of the study's authors, as quoted by the BBC.

"The pattern is clear. The more an individual weighs and the younger their age, the greater the effect on their health, as they have many years ahead of them during which the increased health risks associated with obesity can negatively impact their lives."

A Body Mass Index (BMI) score of 35 or more was considered to be "very obese," and individuals in this category had anywhere between one and eight years shaved off their lives, based on the assessment model. Even overweight people with BMI scores between 25 and 30, which is not technically considered "obese," lost up to three years from their lives.

"This research study yet again supports the clear message that by becoming obese you not only take years off your life, but also life off your years in terms of experiencing more years in poor health rather than enjoying a happy, active and productive life," added Barbara Dinsdale, a lifestyle manager at the British charity Heart Research UK.

"Whatever size you are, small, manageable but sustainable changes are the way forward for a happier, healthier and longer life, and reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes."

Maintaining an appropriate diet is key to avoiding obesity, and this includes cutting out refined sugars, "diet" soft drinks, cheap carbohydrates from processed flours and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Contrary to popular belief, fats are an important part of a healthy diet, including saturated fats, as are whole, fresh fruits and vegetables grown in nutrient-dense soils.

If you want to stay slim, also avoid cheap oils like soybean and canola, which are often used in processed foods and condiments. And remember to get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily to stay fit and healthy.

Sources:

http://www.philly.com

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

http://www.bbc.com

http://science.naturalnews.com