Obesity: Did You Know?

Obese individuals have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of death from all causes, compared with normal-weight individuals. Most of the increased risk is due to cardiovascular causes.

Obesity can shorten your life by 9 years. 18 million days of work are lost through sickness due to obesity, and it costs the English NHS £500 million a year.

An estimated 70 percent of diabetes risk in the U.S. can be attributed to excess weight.

The prevalence of hypertension in adults who are obese is 41.9 percent for men and 37.8 percent for women.

Men waist sizes are set to increase to 40 inches by 2020. The current size is 38 inches, but many men refuse to accept their waistline – 50% squeeze into trousers that are a size too small for them.

25% of people will be obese by 2010. It is estimated that obesity will cost the English economy over £3.5 billion a year in time off work due to illness.

Eating an extra 135 calories could result in you gaining a stone over a year. This is approximately equivalent to a bag of crisps a day.

Calorie consumption has fallen in England by 25% since its peak in the 1970s. The level of obesity has increased, probably because individuals are far less active.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues like obesity.

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