I certainly believe this article! At least with smokers the majority of them are able to live a normal life until later years when the smoking catches up with them. Not the same with obesity. I’ve had many patients admitted to the hospital from a nursing home due to complications from their obesity and they were in their 40’s! It’s hard to even imagine being 40 years old and living in a nursing home due to obesity yet it’s more common than you think.
America’s obesity epidemic now poses an equal or greater threat to health-related quality of life than smoking, according to a new study.
Researchers say that as obesity in America has risen dramatically in recent years — and smoking rates have declined — the contribution of obesity to the burden of disease and shortening of life has increased while smoking’s role has decreased.
The study showed that from 1993 to 2008, the proportion of smokers among U.S. adults declined by 18.5% while the proportion of obese adults increased 85%.
Using information from nationwide annual health-related quality-of-life surveys conducted during the same time period, researchers calculated the Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) lost due to these two major health risk factors.
The results, published in the American Journal of Preventive Health, show that smoking-related QALYs lost remained relatively stable during this time period at 0.0438, or 16 days of healthy life lost per adult population.
Meanwhile, as the obesity epidemic increased the quality-of-life problems caused by obesity increased and accounted for 0.0464 QALYs lost.
Researchers say smoking had a bigger impact on deaths while obesity had a bigger effect on illness.
"Because of the marked increase in the proportion of obese people, obesity has become an equal, if not greater contributor to the burden of disease than smoking," write researcher Haomiao Jia, PhD, of Columbia University, and colleagues. "Such data are essential in setting targets for reducing modifiable health risks and eliminating health disparities."
Obesity Rise Hurts Health More Than Smoking
I never smoked (oh, you know, dabbled when younger), but am getting a little thick around the middle. Seems to be a genetic trait and of course the fact that I like chocolate. But I am simply amazed at the amount of people on those little scooters in the stores. I think those damned things coupled with cell phones might start a whole new set of problems hopefully being studied. The fact that some folks just can’t drive. And those on the phone just can’t think and talk. And you’ve got some accidents waiting to happen. By the way, Happy New Year!
Brenda
@Brenda – I hear ya about those scooters! There’s definitely a correlation between increased obesity – decreased mobility. Happy New Year to you too.
I do feel so very sorry for anyone who is morbid obese, however I do not believe if you are only a few pounds over in the weight Dept. that somebody came up with that you should be, is alright, I also believe that salt has a lot to do with obesity as I found out that I cannot even eat one potatoe chip because of the salt, I have also found many things that I use to eat but can no longer stand to eat do to the taste of the salt. and in so not being able to eat salty foods, I have lost 43lbs….Brenda even though I am diabetic I can eat a piece of Dark chocolate now and then, so go for it girl.
@Mary Anne – I can’t do salty foods either. Hey dark chocolate is good for us, it’s good for the heart, lowers blood pressure and full of antioxidants. Enjoy that one little square a day.