Obese people are at a higher danger of not living their lives fully. What was once speculated is now confirmed. Obesity could pose as a threat in the way of enjoying a long life span. Dutch researchers collected medical records of volunteers and found that those who became obese by the age of 40, their life expectancy decreased by 3 to 14 years. Researchers at Erasmus Medical Centre and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands analysed the data for the study, which appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine early this year.
Root causes
The March 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reports childhood obesity as one of the most important and usual causes of later obesity and the consequent risk of shortened life span.
Ludwig — director of the obesity program at Children’s Hospital, Boston says that obesity rates are increasing fastest among children, and they will carry obesity-related health risks throughout their lives. The striking rise in diabetes also is another important reason contributing to diabetes. And the cause for this is again inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle.
What could be done?
Obesity could be kept at bay provided sufficient steps are taken well in advance. These measures if not taken in childhood obesity might gradually lead to permanent obesity in the long run, carrying with it related risks. The preventive measures are quite simple if executed on time.
- Encourage children to play outdoors. This keeps most health problems away
- Children tend to binge on a lot of junk food. See to it that they cut down on these and make them have enough servings of veggies.
- In case of adults, a determined restriction in diet on a regular basis works. This should however be supplemented with exercise.
- Regular check-ups with the doctor to rule out blood pressure, diabetes etc is essential.
