Lifestyle factor
Body weight and life expectancy
Body weight has a J-shaped relationship with mortality, where both very low and high BMI are associated with higher risk than the middle range.
What the research suggests
Large pooled analyses, such as the Prospective Studies Collaboration in the Lancet, associate moderate obesity with a few years of lower life expectancy and severe obesity with a larger reduction, often cited at up to around a decade at the highest BMI levels. The relationship is gradual, and even partial weight loss out of the obese range is associated with meaningful benefit.
What helps
- Gradual, sustainable weight loss where relevant
- Regular physical activity
- A diet rich in whole foods
- Reducing ultra-processed food
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Answer around a dozen short questions and get a five-year age range based on your profile. It takes about two minutes.
Start the estimatorCommon questions
How does body weight affect life expectancy?
Large pooled analyses, such as the Prospective Studies Collaboration in the Lancet, associate moderate obesity with a few years of lower life expectancy and severe obesity with a larger reduction, often cited at up to around a decade at the highest BMI levels. The relationship is gradual, and even partial weight loss out of the obese range is associated with meaningful benefit.
What is the single most useful change?
Gradual, sustainable weight loss where relevant. Sustained changes started earlier tend to have the largest effect, though benefit is associated with change at any age.