Obesity and Overweight Causes Premature Heart Disease Death, Study Proves

More Americans and Australians are dying from heart diseases. It is found to be caused by overweight and obesity. The study done by the research team at the University of Melbourne revealed that most subjects are from the younger people group. 

A research team, led by Dr. Tim Adair and Professor Alan Lopez, found that the rate of deaths caused by heart illness is rising. They are mostly from people ages 35 to 74 who were either overweight or obese. 

The rate was rising at about three percent per year in Australia in 2016, and in the US in 2017. Before this, a decline of more than two percent per year in Australia, and no change in the US, was observed. They found in pilot data that the deaths have risen after the decrease. 

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Studied overweight and obesity-related heart disease

The research team studied all the causes, as reported on death certificates. The data were from deaths in Australia between 2006 to 2016 and between 2000 to 2017 in the US. The team pointed out the deaths as any heart disease strongly linked to excess weight. They also studied sickness like diabetes, chronic kidney disease, lipid problems, and high blood pressure. 

A faster increase in the rates of deaths

With 40 percent Australian and 50 percent American subjects, the study focused on deaths caused by obesity. The team found that overweight or obesity-related heart illness deaths were rising faster than any other cause. 

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The first and second-ranked high-income countries for adult obesity prevalence are the US and Australia, respectively. About one-third of the people in both countries are obese. The rate has rapidly increased in recent decades. 

University of Melbourne Director of Global Burden Disease Group, Professor Lopez, shared their team's concerns. They noted that the significant increase in the obesity-related death rates of younger people is alarming. He also said that there could be side effects in the coming years. It is especially true when young people with obesity reach old age. People know that deaths related to heart disease are more common when they grow old. 

Lopez added that if they want to reverse these trends, they will need a healthy approach to teach people about health. He also noted that changes in taxation plans, and controlling ads are required. Adding to that, he said that regulation in the food and drink industry and more active transport plans need to take place. 

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Many factors need to address

The research team also said that health plans should focus on broader structural health factors. They found that higher levels of obesity were among lower socioeconomic groups. Dr. Adair noted that housing, employment, transport, food safety, social, and economic stress affect this growing health crisis. He also said that they need to address these factors to reduce overweight and obesity-related deaths. 

Dr. Adair believes that people should do something to decrease obesity rates. If not, it will be hard to address the control and decrease in overall life expectancy in Australia and the US.