Life Expectancy for Obese Women: Factors & CDC Data

The life expectancy of an obese woman depends on several factors, including the degree of obesity, the presence of other health conditions, and the individual's lifestyle. However, on average, obese women have a shorter life expectancy compared to women of a healthy weight.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the life expectancy for an obese woman in the United States is about 6 years less than that of a woman of healthy weight. This means that an obese woman can expect to live to about 73 years of age, compared to approximately 80 years for a woman of healthy weight.

The degree of obesity also plays a role in life expectancy. The higher the degree of obesity, the greater the risk of developing obesity-related health conditions and the shorter the life expectancy. For example, women with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher have a life expectancy that is about 10 years shorter than that of women with a healthy weight.

In addition to the degree of obesity, other health conditions and lifestyle factors can also affect the life expectancy of an obese woman. For example, obese women who smoke or have high blood pressure or diabetes have a shorter life expectancy than obese women who do not have these conditions.

Despite these challenges, there are several things that obese women can do to improve their life expectancy. These include losing weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and managing any underlying health conditions. By making these changes, obese women can reduce their risk of developing obesity-related health problems and improve their overall health and well-being.