from Boston University and University of Pennsylvania
Obesity continues to rise in this country
and, as a result, it has slowed the decline
in death rates. Researchers at Boston
University and the University of
Pennsylvania estimate that the death rate
would have declined one-half of a
percentage point faster if obesity had not
risen. Thanks to a reduction in smoking,
death rates have improved, but they are
not improving fast enough to offset the
effect of the growth of obesity among
Americans. With many medical advances
and efforts to curb unhealthy behaviors,
one might expect that life expectancy in
this country would improve more than it
has over the last three decades. This
study underscores the importance of the
obesity epidemic for American health and
mortality.