The importance in living a long and healthy life has become insurmountable since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and finding ways to help boost our health and longevity has never been more pertinent. So much so that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is launching a campaign to help Brits live longer. When it comes to the number one way you can help boost your longevity, losing weight is key.
Being overweight is linked to many health problems, and shedding some pounds is often presented as the best way to avoid them, no matter your age.
Researchers found the association between weight gain and mortality weakens as you get older and losing weight in middle age or late adulthood may heighten the risk of premature death, particularly when it comes to heart disease.
Weight gain from mid-20s into middle age was associated with increased risk of mortality when compared to people who remained at normal weight throughout their life.
However, weight loss in middle and older age is significantly related to increased mortality risk.
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Obese or even merely overweight people who can shed just three percent of their weight and keep it off for the long-term will see significant health benefits from lowering their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as some cancers.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) acknowledges the difficulties many people face while losing weight and maintaining the loss.
Men who are obese are estimated to be around five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and 2.5 times more likely to develop high blood pressure.
Women who are obese are estimated to be around 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and four times more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who are not.
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In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes for Health, obesity and the related consequences to ageing was analysed.
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Obesity has become a major public health problem, noted the study.
It continued: “Given the current increase in life expectancy, the prevalence of obesity also raises steadily among older age groups.
“The increase in life expectancy is often accompanied with additional years of susceptibility to chronic ill health associated with obesity in the elderly.
“Data on age-related changes in obesity has led some researchers to postulate that obesity could be considered as a condition of premature metabolic dysfunction resembling ageing.
“Obesity is commonly associated with increased susceptibility to health problems, thereby becoming a leading cause of preventable death.”
“Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of physical health in our ability to tackle such illnesses, and we must continue to help people to lead healthy lives so we can all better prevent and fight illnesses.”
Mr Johnson himself has turned his health around after contracting COVID-19 last year.
Experts believe his weight played a significant factor in the severity of his illness after being hospitalised for a week.
Since then, he has made positive changes to his overall health and has since embarked on a gruelling daily fitness regime and employed personal trainer Harry Jameson.
Mr Johnson said yesterday: “The new Office for Health Promotion will be crucial in tackling the causes, not just the symptoms, of poor health and improving prevention of illnesses.
“Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of physical health in our ability to tackle such illnesses, and we must continue to help people to lead healthy lives so we can all better prevent and fight illnesses.”
Source: Daily Express
