Obese men at greater risk of premature death

A report published in the Lancet has warned that obese men are at greater risk of dying early than obese women.

The study is the largest ever report on obesity and death and found that obese men have a higher risk of diabetes and higher levels of dangerous liver fat. Obesity was also named as the most significant cause of death in Europe and North America, second only to smoking.

The research compiled data from 189 studies across the world, involving almost four million people collectively. The findings suggested the links between obesity and death were strongest amongst men. The study estimated that the risk of death before the age of 70 was 29 per cent for an obese man and 19 per cent for a man of average weight.

Meanwhile the risk for women was 11 per cent at a normal weight and 14.6 per cent at an obese weight.

Professor Richard Peto, said: "Smoking causes about a a quarter of all premature deaths in Europe and North America, and smokers can halve their risk of premature death by stopping.
"But overweight and obesity now cause about one in seven of all premature deaths in Europe and one in five of all premature deaths in North America."