Obesity cuts life expectancy by up to 8 years, study finds

Obesity can cut life expectancy by up to eight years - and cost people up to 19 years of healthy living, according to new research.

A new study in the Lancet Journal has found that those with a Body Mass Index of over 35 are likely to lose between one and eight years of life, while those with BMIs of 25 to 30 could lose up to three 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 and the healthy life-years free from living with these chronic illnesses compared with people of normal weight", said lead author Dr Steven Grover.

The research shows the effects of obesity on life expectancy are far greater for young people and drop as age increases.

Professor Donal O’Shea, director of the Weight Management Clinic at Loughlinstown Hospital - says he is not surprised by the research findings.

"We know enough, it's now the time where we have to start changing the environment so we have people who are more physically active and healthier, because that's the only way we're going to be able to cope in terms of good health and limiting ill health in the next couple of decades," he said.