Being a non smoker but overweight (not obese) most of my adult life how much have I reduced my life expectancy? I am 5'7.5". In Feb 1987 age 31 I was 12st 1lb and I dieted to 9st 13lbs in 5 months. Over the last 20 years my weight has drifted up to 13st 10lbs at age 50. Since September 2006 I've dieted and today I'm 12st 9lbs.
Peeters & Barendregt et al (2003) found adults who were overweight (BMI, 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) and did not smoke lived about 3 years less than normal-weight nonsmokers.
Redden and Wang et al (2003) found that optimal BMI associated with greatest longevity was 23-25. Years of life lost (YLL) is defined as the difference between the number of years a person would be expected to live if he/she was not obese (BMI 24) and the number of years expected to live if the person were obese. At a BMI 30 YLL for a 50 year old male was ONE year. At a BMI 28 YLL for a 50 year old female was ONE year.
Calle & Thun et al (1999) - In healthy people who had never smoked, the nadir of the curve for body-mass index and mortality was found at a body-mass index of 23.5 to 24.9 in men and 22.0 to 23.4 in women.
Schatzkin & Adams et al (2006) and dave.md Review stated " during midlife (50 years) for non smokers the risk of death increased by 20% among overweight persons." BMI 21 to 26.4 was optimal longevity (see Table 3 below).
Journal Watch suggest that being overweight increases mortality rates among nonsmokers; in part, the effect is mediated by conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
