Latest news with #prematuredeath
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
New study reveals that belly fat is a key measure of health and longevity
Carrying extra fat around your belly, even if you are not overweight, can quietly take away your strength and shorten your life without warning, scientists warns. A recent study found that people with thicker waists compared to their height or hips are more likely to struggle with movement as they age, and face a higher risk of premature death. Researchers said it is not how much you weigh, it's about where you carry it. And belly fat is a major red flag for your body. A team of Italian scientists tested 10,690 adults over six years using a simple sit-and-stand test performed five times from a chair. Dr Elena Levati, the lead researcher and surgeon at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation in Italy, wrote: 'This can help identify people at risk before more serious problems show up.' The study found that people were 28 per cent more likely to have trouble moving if their waist was wide compared to their hips, and 32 per cent more likely if their waist was too large for their height, regardless of their weight or age. According to a report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 40.3 per cent of adults in the U.S. classify as obese, which is more than 100 million people. The CDC says that the belly fat, especially the kind that builds up around organs, raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and early death. The study published in Aging focused on two numbers, the waist to hip ration (WHR) and the waist to height ratio (WHtR). Experts note that WHR and WHtR have been used in clinical trials for years to identify risks for heart disease and diabetes. The recent study, however, explored WHtR's link to age-related muscle decline, testing how quickly patient's muscle function deteriorates with aging. Researchers collected participants' waist and hip measurements, had them complete questionnaires about their diet and exercise, and took blood samples to check cholesterol and glucose levels. They discovered that about 71 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women had risky waist-to-height ratios. For waist-to-hip ratios, 61 pe rcent of men and 39 per cent of women had unhealthy scores. During the test, participants were timed as they stood up and sat down from a chair five times. On average, women took 7.9 seconds to complete it, while men took 7.6 seconds, both within the normal range for their age groups. However, the study found that people with larger WHR or WHtR ratios consistently performed worse on this test. Even after adjusting for weight, age, and other factors, these participants were more likely to show signs of declining physical ability. Although a duration longer than 10.8 seconds is typically regarded as a warning sign for frailty or disability, the researchers found that slower performance in individuals with higher belly fat ratios indicates that their muscular function may be compromised, even if they have not yet crossed that danger threshold. Another study published by National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that older adults, with abdominal obesity and low handgrip strength, face twice the risk of death from any cause. This combination highlights accelerated aging and increased vulnerability to weakness, disability, and premature death. Researchers said the root cause of this issue might be the visceral fat, a type of body fat stored deep within the abdominal area, surrounding vital organs like the liver, intestines, and stomach. Since visceral fat wraps around the organs, it has been linked to inflammation, poor muscle quality, and sarcopenia, a condition where muscle strength declines with age. Nearly 50 pe rcent of American adults have unhealthy waist sizes linked to excess abdominal fat, based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. This kind of fat buildup can quietly affect your balance, endurance, and even how your heart and lungs work during exercise, according to the experts. They added that unlike body weight or body to mass index (BMI), which sometimes can be misleading, these waist ratios give a clear picture as someone with normal BMI still can carry dangerous belly fat. The study also found that waist-to-height ratio was a better predictor than waist-to-hip ratio. It was more accurate for both men and women, and worked better regardless of age. In fact, just measuring your waist and comparing it to your height may be the simplest way to know if your future mobility is at risk. The waist-to-height test has another advantage, it is quick, cheap, and does not require a lab or doctor's visit. While the study focused on physical performance, the implications go beyond that. Poor mobility has been tied to higher death rates, hospitalizations, and reduced quality of life. A study published in NIH in 2023 found that older adults with high waist circumference were significantly more likely to develop a disability within five years, even when their overall weight stayed stable.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Hidden clue reveals how long you'll live as scientists warn of 'serious problems' lurking in your body
Carrying extra fat around your belly, even if you are not overweight, can quietly take away your strength and shorten your life without warning, scientists warns. A recent study found that people with thicker waists compared to their height or hips are more likely to struggle with movement as they age, and face a higher risk of premature death. Researchers said it is not how much you weigh, it's about where you carry it. And belly fat is a major red flag for your body. A team of Italian scientists tested 10,690 adults over six years using a simple sit–and–stand test performed five times from a chair. Dr Elena Levati, the lead researcher and surgeon at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation in Italy, wrote: 'This can help identify people at risk before more serious problems show up.' The study found that people were 28 percent more likely to have trouble moving if their waist was wide compared to their hips, and 32 percent more likely if their waist was too large for their height, regardless of their weight or age. According to a report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 40.3 percent of adults in the US classify as obese, which is more than 100 million people. The CDC says that the belly fat, especially the kind that builds up around organs, raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and early death. The study published in Aging focused on two numbers, the waist to hip ration (WHR) and the waist to height ratio (WHtR). Experts note that WHR and WHtR have been used in clinical trials for years to identify risks for heart disease and diabetes. The recent study, however, explored WHtR's link to age-related muscle decline, testing how quickly patient's muscle function deteriorates with aging. Researchers collected participants' waist and hip measurements, had them complete questionnaires about their diet and exercise, and took blood samples to check cholesterol and glucose levels. They discovered that about 71 percent of men and 53 percent of women had risky waist-to-height ratios. For waist-to-hip ratios, 61 percent of men and 39 percent of women had unhealthy scores. During the test, participants were timed as they stood up and sat down from a chair five times. On average, women took 7.9 seconds to complete it, while men took 7.6 seconds, both within the normal range for their age groups. However, the study found that people with larger WHR or WHtR ratios consistently performed worse on this test. Even after adjusting for weight, age, and other factors, these participants were more likely to show signs of declining physical ability. Although a duration longer than 10.8 seconds is typically regarded as a warning sign for frailty or disability, the researchers found that slower performance in individuals with higher belly fat ratios indicates that their muscular function may be compromised, even if they have not yet crossed that danger threshold. Another study published by National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that older adults, with abdominal obesity and low handgrip strength, face twice the risk of death from any cause. This combination highlights accelerated aging and increased vulnerability to weakness, disability, and premature death. Researchers said the root cause of this issue might be the visceral fat, a type of body fat stored deep within the abdominal area, surrounding vital organs like the liver, intestines, and stomach. Since visceral fat wraps around the organs, it has been linked to inflammation, poor muscle quality, and sarcopenia, a condition where muscle strength declines with age. Nearly 50 percent of American adults have unhealthy waist sizes linked to excess abdominal fat, based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. This kind of fat buildup can quietly affect your balance, endurance, and even how your heart and lungs work during exercise, according to the experts. They added that unlike body weight or body to mass index (BMI), which sometimes can be misleading, these waist ratios give a clear picture as someone with normal BMI still can carry dangerous belly fat. The study also found that waist–to–height ratio was a better predictor than waist–to–hip ratio. It was more accurate for both men and women, and worked better regardless of age. In fact, just measuring your waist and comparing it to your height may be the simplest way to know if your future mobility is at risk. The waist–to–height test has another advantage, it is quick, cheap, and does not require a lab or doctor's visit. While the study focused on physical performance, the implications go beyond that. Poor mobility has been tied to higher death rates, hospitalizations, and reduced quality of life. A study published in NIH in 2023 found that older adults with high waist circumference were significantly more likely to develop a disability within five years, even when their overall weight stayed stable.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Men are not OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests
About 44 per cent of men living in Canada die prematurely, according to a new report from the Movember Institute of Men's Health. The report defines premature mortality as deaths in men before age 75. The deaths from cancer, coronary heart disease, accidents, suicide and the opioid crisis include some causes that might have been prevented through vaccinations, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or avoiding injuries. In 2023, almost 75,000 males died prematurely, according to Statistics Canada. "We're here because too many men are dying too young from largely preventable causes," Catherine Corriveau of Movember Canada said at a news conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday. Suicide was the fourth leading cause of premature death in males after cancer, coronary heart disease and accidents. Three in four of the deaths by suicide in Canada were men, Corriveau said. While the report looks at the health needs of men overall, the group noted those statistics were much worse for Indigenous men or men living in vulnerable communities. Stigma, gender bias and low health literacy are long-standing barriers that often prevent men from seeking care until it's too late, the report's authors said. The impact extends to families, communities and the economy. Fathers and sons learn together Niigaan Sinclair, a co-author of the report and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, said one solution is to have fathers and sons learn together. He gave an example during a recent fathers' weekend where he spoke and saw boys and men who grew up without fathers or uncles learning skills like how to tie their shoes, do a puzzle or build a lodge together. "That young man who has become a father, he too didn't learn that because he wasn't able to, because many of those ceremonies in his community were gutted and removed," said Sinclair, who is also the son of the late Senator Murray Sinclair, the first Indigenous person appointed as a judge in Manitoba and chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools. "Making mistakes together, learning humility together, learning to laugh together at themselves, but then ultimately making something together that they could be proud of. That's truly what I think a goal would be for any program that would teach healthy Indigenous masculinity or Indigenous manhood." WATCH | Black men discuss Black masculinity, dating and fatherhood: Those lessons could help men avoid outcomes like jail, hospitalization or premature death, Sinclair said, while also benefiting families and their communities. The report also suggests embracing the power of sport to promote health. Experiences with seeking help The report's authors also analyzed national mortality trends. Previously, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said deaths from preventable causes were twice that for men than women. The Movember report included a nationally representative poll of more than 1,500 men on their experiences engaging with primary care. Only about 48 per cent of respondents said they felt actively listened to during a first health-care interaction. "If they don't feel listened to and if they don't feel cared for, they might not show up again," Corriveau said. Dr. Vincent Agyapong, a professor and head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, said he was surprised by that finding. "It reflects that health-care providers need to listen more empathetically," said Agyapong, who was not involved in the report and welcomed the authors' multi-pronged approach to mental health that isn't one-size-fits-all. "It's always very difficult for men to reach out and seek help," Agyapong said. Prioritize mental health literacy When men do seek help, Agyapong said, it's important that health-care providers are sensitive and focus on the main concern that brought the person in off the bat, instead of launching into a checklist of background questions. Agyapong said schools and workplaces should prioritize mental health literacy, providing men with resources to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and know they are treatable with medications and psychological approaches. Mental health promotion for men at risk will lead to more people seeking healthcare such as psychological help earlier on when they are distressed rather than trying to manage themselves or turning to alcohol and drugs, which can be risk factors themselves, Agyapong said. Corriveau said Canada has an opportunity to address the challenges of health promotion by developing a national men's health strategy to respond to their health-care needs. Australia and the U.K. have already done so. If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to look for help:
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Is YOUR neighbourhood a premature death hotspot? Interactive map reveals the areas of England and Wales where men are most likely to die young
Dozens of areas of England and Wales have today been flagged as premature death hotspots. Blackpool South has the highest premature mortality rate, MailOnline analysis shows. For every 100,000 men living there, nearly 730 died last year before turning 75. Although that rate appears small, it is 3.4 times higher than in North East Hampshire (214.3 per 100,000) – the area of the country where men have the best chances of avoiding an early grave. Professor Karol Sikora, an oncologist with 40 years of experience who once advised ministers and acted as the World Health Organization 's cancer chief, described the rate in Blackpool South as 'dreadful'. He added: 'Anything above 500 is bad news.' Yet Government figures suggest 76 of the 575 parliamentary constituencies – or one in eight – exceed that rate. All rates are age-standardised, meaning they factor in the age distribution of different areas, this is because comparing two populations that have different age structures is not fair. How are premature deaths calculated? Someone is counted as dying prematurely if they die before the age of 75. Statisticians use age-standardised mortality rates to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. This is because age is the biggest factor when it comes to mortality rates. For example, a neighbourhood home to swathes of over-60s would, in theory, record more premature deaths than a student hotspot. Therefore, factoring in the ages of the two places would allow a fairer comparison on relative mortality experience in each area, according to experts. The rate is usually per 100,000 population. Professor Sikora said: 'These scores reflect poverty. 'People with less money have less education, and they tend to have more unhealthy lifestyles, from everything to smoking, alcohol, obesity, everything you can imagine, lack of exercise, poor diets, poor housing conditions. 'All this leads to illness, and that leads to earlier mortality. 'It is bound to get worse without major policy changes.' However, Professor Sikora points out that not all communities face the same outcomes. He said: 'There are some exceptions. I mean, it's quite amazing. For example, the South Asian population in Slough live remarkably long, and they do remarkably well, and they tend not to be obese. So it's not just poverty, it's a whole series of things around it.' The original mortality data, held by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), lay bare a clear North-South divide. Out of the 20 constituencies with the worst premature death rates, 13 of them were in the north and three in the Midlands. For comparison, 16 out of 20 areas with the lowest figures were in the south. Behind Blackpool South came Middleborough and Thornaby East (685.8) and Leeds South (670.4). Premature deaths may happen from illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, injuries, violence and even suicide. Although Professor Sikora explains the main driver of premature mortality is lifestyle, he says a secondary factor is access to healthcare. He said: 'We have a free system, the NHS. But we know that poorer people access it differently from wealthier people, even though it's free. 'So it's not so much wealth. It's education. The better educated people can use a complex system more effectively than people who have no education. 'They just know how not to get aggressive, because getting aggressive doesn't help, but how to push for what they want in a quiet sort of way, and so access to health care.' Professor Sikora also points out that the best specialists and the best GPs often choose to live in the most desirable areas, not in deprived areas. The ONS data, which defines a premature death to be anything before 75, does not include Scotland or Northern Ireland. The analysis comes after a study last year concluded one in four premature deaths will be due to cancer between 2023 and 2050. This equates to around 50,000 per year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It warned that the 'current trajectory of cancer costs is unsustainable'. Professor Sikora says cancer deaths often follow the same pattern as other deaths, with lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, obesity, lack of exercise, poor quality, diet, all posing risks. He also said poorer people are less likely to access treatment as they don't go for screening, don't have mammograms and don't turn up for tests when they're asked to. 'They often just don't bother going to the hospital, or when they do, they go when it's late. They haven't got the money to get on public transport and get there. So they just skip the hospital appointments and so on', he said. Peter Matejic, chief analyst at the poverty fighting charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: 'It's heartbreaking that some areas have such high rates of premature deaths. 'We have known that there are links between poverty and worse health outcomes for decades, and as a nation that is a gap we should be narrowing. 'Many factors throughout your life can lead to dying prematurely, but your economic situation affects your health at every stage, from what you eat as a child to whether you can afford essentials as an adult. 'The nation's health needs a real focus from the government but this isn't just about the NHS – it's about whether people are able to lead healthy lives with dignity and hope.'
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Becoming obese under age of 30 ‘raises risk of early death by at least 75%'
Becoming obese under the age of 30 increases the chances of premature death by more than 75%, a large-scale study has found. Nearly two-thirds of adults in England are overweight or obese, while NHS data shows that the average man now weighs more than 85kg (13st 5lb) and the typical woman about 73kg (11st 7lb), more than 6kg heavier than they were in 1993. While excess weight is more common with age, the Swedish research shows that putting on extra weight in early adulthood has a sharply disproportionate impact on mortality risk, compared with those who gained weight later. Researchers, led by academics from Lund University, Malmö, Sweden, tracked 620,000 adults aged 17-60 and found that women who became obese under the age of 30 were 84% more likely to die early, while men were 79% more likely when they were compared with those who did not gain weight in young adulthood. Patients typically gained about half a kilogram a year until the age of 60, but for the under-30s, each additional half kilogram increased their mortality risk by 24% for men and 22% for women. The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga followed male participants for an average of 23 years and females for 12 years. The researchers calculated that weight gain before the age of 30 substantially increased the likelihood of early death from a range of conditions, in particular heart disease and type 2 diabetes. For women, weight gain increased their risk of dying early from cancer at any age. Huyen Le, the lead researcher, said the findings showed how crucial it is to avoid weight gain in teenage years or the 20s. She said: 'Gaining weight early in adulthood, or developing obesity at a young age, is linked to a higher risk of dying from many chronic diseases later in life.' While weight gain after 30 also increased the chance of early death, it was not as dramatic. It increased mortality risk for those aged 30-45 by 52% and for those aged 45-60 by just over 25%. Prof Tanja Stocks, a senior researcher, said 'cumulative, long exposure likely causes these diseases' and called for greater efforts to prevent weight gain in young adults, with improved access to healthier foods, and encouragement of exercise. She said: 'Supporting healthy habits during this critical life stage can have lasting benefits. Even modest weight gains in your 20s can significantly increase the risk of early death if they persist over several years. The earlier people embrace healthy living, the better the chance of a long life.' Responding to the findings, Sonia Pombo, the head of impact and research at Action on Salt, said: 'This important new study provides yet more compelling evidence that weight gain, particularly in early adulthood, has a profound and lasting impact on health and longevity. 'It is clear that we are failing to protect young people from environments that promote poor diets. Urgent action is needed to reformulate unhealthy food and drink, restrict marketing to children and young adults, and make healthy options the easiest, most affordable choice.' Katharine Jenner, the director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: 'This study is yet another wake-up call. Gaining excess weight early in life doesn't just increase the risk of obesity – it can shorten lives by driving up rates of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and poor mental health. 'Many young people are on course to reach obesity by 30, driven by a food environment dominated by fast food deals, oversized portions and highly processed products. 'This is the consequence of decades of failure by the commercial food system and the lack of action by government to fix it. 'Preventing obesity in the first place is essential if the government is serious about delivering five extra healthy years of life and narrowing the life expectancy gap. 'That means more than treatment – we need bold action to make healthy food the easy, affordable and appealing choice.'
