Impact of obesity and overweight in adolescence on life expectancy
A new study was published on March 6(1) in the JCEM (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism), on the impact of obesity, or overweight, on the future life expectancy of these adolescents.
The sample study was relatively large: more than 2 million adolescents (2,159,327) born between 1950 and 1993, and located in the United States. Their BMI (Body Mass Index) was measured at the age of 17.
The researchers found a higher risk of death, before the age of 50, in overweight and obese adolescents.
The study also showed that for overweight or obese adolescents, there wasno improvementin survival ratebetween 1950 and 1980.
This suggests that if the overall life expectancy of the population continues to increase, as well as the quality of life (especially among the elderly), this does not benefit overweight adolescents.
Why is it more likely to die before the age of 50, if you are overweight or obese in adolescence?
First of all because the risks of cancer, or cardiovascular diseases are increased. But that’s not all: obesity at an early age promotes the onset of endocrine diseases, including the development of type II diabetes, joint diseases, the persistence of childhood asthma, respiratory diseases (such as sleep apnea), high blood pressure, etc.
And in the long term, other pathologies may also appear (suspicion of kidney function disorders, liver function disorders, etc.).
All this scientific knowledge explains these worrying figures, and the conclusions of these studies.
What can be done to reduce this risk?
Today, public health policies focus their actions on prevention, and education from an early age, to avoid the onset of obesity among young people.
Among the great actions carried out, the famous “5 fruits and vegetables a day”, which no one can ignore now. However, the result in children and adolescents remains mixed, because if adults have increased their consumption (either fresh products or frozen or canned fruits or vegetables), the message has less impact on the daily consumption of young people.
On the other hand, alongside food education, physical activity is the other inseparable counterpart of the fight against obesity. But our lifestyles, which promote a sedentary lifestyle, unfortunately do not seem to go in the direction of this recommendation.
Socio-environmental factors have also been highlighted, and it is known that socially disadvantaged populations are more at risk of developing obesity. Depression in adolescents(2) is also a risk disease for obesity: the link between the two has also been established recently.
In other words, obesity among young people is a major and multifactorial problem, the management of which deserves to be multidisciplinary.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.