Is the High Level of Obesity in the United States Related to Its Low Life Expectancy?

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dc.contributor.authorPreston, Samuel H.
dc.contributor.authorStokes, Andrew
dc.date2023-05-24T10:00:06.945
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-24T10:04:46Z
dc.date.available2023-05-24T10:04:46Z
dc.date.issued2011-09-22
dc.date.submitted2011-01-28T10:30:38-08:00
dc.description.abstractBackground. The US has the highest prevalence of obesity and one of the lowest life expectancies among OECD countries. While it is plausible to assume that these two phenomena are related, no previous attempt has been made to identify the connection between them. Our paper uses primary data on body mass index (BMI) in 16 countries and detailed information on the mortality risks of obesity to estimate the effect of international differences in obesity on comparative levels of longevity. Methods. We estimate the fraction of deaths from all causes attributable to obesity by country, age and sex. We then re-estimate life tables in 2006 by removing deaths attributable to obesity. To allow for the possibility of a secular decline in obesity risks, we employ two alternative sets of risks drawn from a more recent period than the baseline risks. Results. In our baseline analysis, we estimate that US life expectancy at age 50 in 2006 was reduced by 1.54 years (95% condence interval (CI) 1.37-1.93) for women and by 1.85 years (1.62-2.10) for men as a result of obesity. Relative to higher life expectancy countries, allowance for obesity reduces the US shortfall in life expectancy by 42% (36-48) for women and 67% (57-76) for men. Using obesity risks that were recorded more recently, differences in obesity still account for a fifth to a third of the shortfall of life expectancy in the US relative to longer-lived countries. Conclusions. The high prevalence of obesity in the US contributes substantially to its poor international ranking in longevity.
dc.description.commentsA revised and final version of the previous working paper has been published in the American Journal of Public Health as: Preston, S.H. and A. Stokes. 2011. "Contribution of Obesity to International Differences in Life Expectancy." American Journal of Public Health 101(11):2137-2143. PMCID: PMC3222401. http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300219 Working Paper: Preston, Samuel H. and Andrew Stokes. 2010. "Is the High Level of Obesity in the United States Related to Its Low Life Expectancy?" PSC Working Paper Series, PSC 10-09. http://repository.upenn.edu/psc_working_papers/24/
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/49823
dc.legacy.articleid1023
dc.legacy.fieldstrue
dc.legacy.fulltexturlhttps://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=psc_working_papers&unstamped=1
dc.relation.urlhttp://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300219
dc.source.issue24
dc.source.journalPSC Working Paper Series
dc.source.peerreviewedtrue
dc.source.statuspublished
dc.subjectDemography, Population, and Ecology
dc.subjectSocial and Behavioral Sciences
dc.subjectSociology
dc.subject.otherObesity
dc.subject.otherMortality
dc.subject.otherAmerican longevity
dc.subject.otherInternational comparison
dc.titleIs the High Level of Obesity in the United States Related to Its Low Life Expectancy?
dc.typeWorking Paper
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:spreston@sas.upenn.edu|institution:University of Pennsylvania|Preston, Samuel H.
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:astokes@sas.upenn.edu|institution:University of Pennsylvania|Stokes, Andrew
digcom.identifierpsc_working_papers/24
digcom.identifier.contextkey1751510
digcom.identifier.submissionpathpsc_working_papers/24
digcom.typeworkingpaper
dspace.entity.typePublication
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relation.isAuthorOfPublication715ea72d-6bda-4b7f-8c4b-89a59f3f214d
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery360ada12-99f2-45cc-91c1-db78b936a3a5
upenn.schoolDepartmentCenterPSC Working Paper Series
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