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Contribution of obesity to international differences in life expectancy

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  • Preston, S.H.
  • Stokes, A.

Abstract

Objectives. The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity and one of the lowest life expectancies among high-income countries. We investigated the relationship between these 2 phenomena. Methods. We estimated the fraction of deaths attributable to obesity by country, age, and sex and reestimated life tables after removing these deaths. To allow for a possible secular decline in obesity risks, we employed alternative risks from a more recent period. Results. In our baseline analysis, obesity reduced US life expectancy at age 50 years in 2006 by 1.54 years (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.37, 1.93) for women and by 1.85 years (95% CI=1.62, 2.10) for men. Removing the effects of obesity reduced the US shortfall by 42% (95% CI=36, 48) for women and 67% (95% CI=57, 76) for men, relative to countries with higher life expectancies. Using more recently recorded risk data, we estimated that differences in obesity still accounted for a fifth to a third of the shortfall. Conclusions. The high prevalence of obesity in the United States contributes substantially to its poor international ranking in longevity.

Suggested Citation

  • Preston, S.H. & Stokes, A., 2011. "Contribution of obesity to international differences in life expectancy," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(11), pages 2137-2143.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2011.300219_5
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300219
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    Cited by:

    1. Beckfield, Jason & Bambra, Clare, 2016. "Shorter lives in stingier states: Social policy shortcomings help explain the US mortality disadvantage," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 30-38.
    2. Rodrigo R. Soares & Rudi Rocha & Michel Szklo, 2021. "American Delusion: Life Expectancy and Welfare in the US from an International Perspective," Working Papers 13, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.
    3. Sangeeta Bansal & David Zilberman, 2020. "Macrorelationship between average life expectancy and prevalence of obesity: Theory and evidence from global data," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(3), pages 403-427, May.
    4. Dmitri A. Jdanov & Vladimir M. Shkolnikov & Alyson A. van Raalte & Evgeny M. Andreev, 2017. "Decomposing Current Mortality Differences Into Initial Differences and Differences in Trends: The Contour Decomposition Method," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(4), pages 1579-1602, August.
    5. Thomas, Kelsey L. & Dobis, Elizabeth A. & McGranahan, David A., 2024. "The Nature of the Rural-Urban Mortality Gap," Economic Information Bulletin 341639, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Bansal, Sangeeta & Zilberman, David, 2016. "Does health care expenditure counter adverse effects of obesity on health: Evidence from global data," 2017 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting, January 6-8, 2017, Chicago, Illinois 250115, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Alberto Palloni & Hiram Beltran-Sanchez, 2017. "The Impact of Obesity on Adult Mortality Assessment of Estimates with Applications," Working Papers WR-1193, RAND Corporation.
    8. Shivani Gupta & Sangeeta Bansal, "undated". "Overnutrition and Risk of Diabetes: A Micro Data Analysis for India," Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Discussion Papers 19-04, Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
    9. Alberto Palloni & Hiram Beltrán-Sánchez, 2017. "The Impact of Obesity on Adult Mortality: Assessment of Estimates with Applications," Working Papers 2017-044, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    10. Nikoletta Vidra & Maarten J. Bijlsma & Fanny Janssen, 2018. "Impact of Different Estimation Methods on Obesity-Attributable Mortality Levels and Trends: The Case of The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-11, September.

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